Like any stud master, Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty follows race results possibly a little more closely than others, and with European shuttle stallions having graced the Haunui stallion roster for a number of years, is a little more accustomed to being up at all hours of the night to track race performance.
So, one can only imagine the noise in the Chitty household at about 12.50am yesterday morning, when two-year-old filly ISABELLA GILES (IRE) (Belardo) stormed away from her opposition to become BELARDO’s first Group winner.
The winner of her first two starts, ISABELLA GILES ran 4th in stakes company at Ascot at her last start and stepped up to the plate again this weekend, smashing it out of the park with a seven length demolition of her rivals in the G3 Ladbrokes Prestige Stakes over 7f at Goodwood. This followed the equally impressive performance of LULLABY MOON (IRE) (Belardo) in the first on the card giving BELARDO a double for the day.
You can watch the replays here and here.
Mark Chitty says, “It was certainly an impressive performance and a great result for BELARDO to land a group winner just a few days out from the start of our breeding season.
“He’s arrived in New Zealand in tremendous order, he has let down into a real bull and he’ll be a happy boy tomorrow with three trips to the serving barn already in the pipeline.
“It’s early days but, very exciting times with BELARDO and we couldn’t have asked for a better start. We’ve got mares coming from Australia this season off the back of what his progeny in Australia are showing and he’s on track to serve another book of over 100 mares. He is limited to 120 so it would be nice to think that with a result like this, we can get pretty close to a full book.”
BELARDO is standing at a fee of $10,000 + GST this season.
Haunui will be going live with a virtual stallion parade later this week featuring BELARDO and new arrival, RIBCHESTER. And of course visitors are more than welcome to inspect the Haunui stallions in the flesh at any stage, please just give Mark or Shannon a call to arrange a time that is convenient. Mark – 021 663 995, Shannon – 0212 855 513.
