The 2025 NZB National Yearling Sale Series is rapidly approaching and as always champion sire Savabeel is a massive drawcard for the sale and he had the chance to flex his muscles last weekend with a 35th Group I winner and an elite G1 colt headed to Australia and both are bred on nicks that are well proven and super successful.
The good thing about Savabeel is that he is very predictable. He gets a very recognizable type and Waikato Stud have had many years to perfect their breeding plans for him with an emphasis on those nicks with their previous sires that really work for him.
One of those involves Savabeel over mares by O’Reilly and his latest three year-old star Savaglee is bred that way. Winner of the Group I New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Savaglee was purchased for $400,000 at K1 and is a star on the rise.
He won the Group II Levin Classic last Saturday and connections are looking hard at the Group I VRC Australian Guineas for the colt, who is a brother-in-blood to Group I NZ Derby winner Orchestral, who also won the Group I ATC Vinery Stud Stakes in Australia.
The Savabeel x O’Reilly nick runs at 75% winners to runners with 177 winners from 235 runners and there 34 stakes-winners bred this way and 10 are G1 winners with the SW to runner coming in at 14.4%.
As you would expect there are a good number bred this way in Book 1 and they are listed below.
Lot 19 Filly Savabeel x Irish Cream – Carlaw Park
From a winning daughter of Group I winner Dantelah.
Lot 118 Colt Savabeel x Miss Opulence – Riversley Park
From an unraced half-sister to Group I winners Sir Slick and Puccini.
Lot 161 Filly Savabeel x Oh So Chilled – Waikato Stud
Three-quarter sister-inn-blood to stakes-winner Savacool.
Lot 165 Colt Savabeel x O’Naturelle – Jamieson Park
From stakes-placed O’Naturelle, a daughter of Group II winner Natur0.
Lot 345 Filly Savabeel x Symphonic – Haunui Farm
Full sister to dual Group I winner Orchestral and sister-in-blood to Group I winner Savaglee.
Lot 356 Colt Savabeel x The Solitaire – Milan Park
Full brother to Group I NZ 1000 Guineas winner The Perfect Pink.
Lot 426 Filly Savabeel x Absolutely Me – Waikato Stud
Closely related to Group II winners Forgot You and Acting from a winning half-sister to Group I winners Glamour Puss and Vision and Power.
Lot 587 Colt Savabeel x Etiquette – Waikato Stud
Full brother to Group III winner Milford from an unraced sister to four time Group I winner Sacred Falls.
The 35th Group I winner for Savabeel came in the shape of his progressive daughter Provence, who scored a thrilling win in the Group I Thorndon Mile and comes from a very solid Black Type female family that has also produced the Group I winner and now promising sire Brutal.
Provence is from a daughter of champion Australian sire Flying Spur and that nick has some ridiculously impressive stats.
100% winners to runners with 25 winners from 25 runners and Provence is the third G1 winner among six stakes-winners and her talented three year-old full sister Damask Rose promises to be number seven. The SW to runner strike rate is 24%.
There is one yearling at Karaka bred this way.
Lot 627 Filly Savabeel x Fromage – Westbury Stud
Half-sister to Group I winner Marscapone from the family of Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner and NZ Filly of the Year Sofia Rosa.
The five action-packed days of selling are headed by Book 1, set to commence from Sunday 26 until Tuesday 28 January from 10am (NZT) each day, while Book 2 will begin directly after, on Wednesday 29 (12pm start) and Thursday 30 January (10am start).
The stage is set for a week-long thoroughbred extravaganza in Auckland, starting with an extraordinary TAB Karaka Millions race day at Ellerslie Racecourse on Saturday 25 January. The six-race card now carries total stakes of more than $5 million, headed by the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) for graduates of the sales. All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2025 are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series.
