Waikato Stud Influence Felt in Aus Double

Within one special hour on Saturday, Waikato Stud graduates Probabeel (Savabeel-Far Fetched, by Pins) and Aegon (Sacred Falls-Toss Up, by Zabeel) flew the New Zealand flag high across the Tasman with a superb stakes-winning double. Probabeel was up first, adding a third Australian Group 1 victory to her growing collection in Caulfield’s Futurity Stakes (1400m). According to NZ Racing Desk, A perfect Sydney debut for Aegon followed 60 minutes later. The undefeated Kiwi 3YO made a huge first impression on Australian audiences with a dominant performance in the Gr2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill after having previously won all of his four starts on home soil, including the Gr1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). It was a proud day for the New Zealand industry, and for Waikato Stud in particular; both standout performers were bred by the world-renowned nursery, and both are by Waikato Stud stallions – Probabeel is by the champion Savabeel, while Aegon is a son of Sacred Falls. The dams of both horses are also Waikato homebreds. Probabeel’s dam Far Fetched was a stakes-placed daughter of Pins, and Aegon is out of the Zabeel mare Toss Up. Finally, both Probabeel and Aegon were sold through Waikato Stud’s yearling drafts at Karaka, with Probabeel bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $380,000, and Aegon a $150,000 purchase by co-trainer and part-owner Andrew Forsman. “It was a very special hour for us as a stud, but also for us as the New Zealand thoroughbred industry,” Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick said. “We’ve always been able to produce quality horses that can go over to Australia and perform against their very best, and yesterday gave us two great examples of that.”