With Father’s Day this Sunday, we thought there’s no better time to highlight the superstar stallions (both here in New Zealand and around the world) who play ‘Dad’ to our modern day champions. 

 

Savabeel 

A four-time champion New Zealand sire and dad to 17 Group 1 winners, Savabeel has cemented himself as New Zealand’s current leading stallion. As a sire, he has proven himself to be very versatile, producing winners over 1200m and up to 2400m. The son of Zabeel has sired the likes of Embellish, Supera and Savvy Coup. 

 

This stallion really needs little introduction. He is thought to be the best stallion in the world and for very good reason. A champion racehorse himself, Galileo has produced 75 Group 1 winners including the spectacular Frankel, Nathaniel and Teofilo, all of whom are now standing at stud. Galileo is so sought after that his service fee is kept private, although it is estimated to be well north of $500,000. Galileo is truly a phenomenon and one superstar dad! 

 

Rated by UK racing experts Timeform as the greatest racehorse in history, Frankel is the son of champion sire Galileo and has now gone on to stand at stud himself. As a racehorse, he was unbeaten in his 14 starts, including 10 Group 1 wins, before retiring to stud in 2012. Frankel was the leading sire of Royal Ascot in 2018 and has sired multiple Group 1 winners including Cracksman, Without Parole and Dream Castle. 

 

A champion international sire, Tavistock plays dad to the likes of Volkstock’n’barrell and Tarzino. He has sired four Derby winners across Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong and is showing no signs of slowing down. Hong Kong Horse of the Year, Werther and Singapore Horse of the Year, Infantry are both by Tavistock. 

 

He has produced some of the best New Zealand horses in recent years, including Gingernuts and Jon Snow, who won Derbys on either side of the Tasman respectively. His worth as a stallion was further proved by champion miler Ribchester, who won a Group 1 at Royal Ascot. He is also dad to Meleka Belle, dam of the multiple Group 1 winning and likely 2018/19 Horse of the Year, Melody Belle. 

 

Here’s to the Dads!