Waikato Stud reclaimed the mantle as leading Book 1 vendor by aggregate at this week’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.

The Matamata farm sold 39 yearlings in the premier session for a healthy $7,860,000 to edge out last-year’s leading vendor Cambridge Stud, who sold 34 yearlings for $6,105,000.

TFI (Tony Fung Investments) was a major contributor to Waikato Stud’s successful week, purchasing the two highest priced yearlings in their draft, headed by sale topper - lot 161, the Savabeel full-brother to Mo’unga, for $1 million, and lot 528, the Savabeel colt out of a half-sister to Group One winner Metal Bender, for $850,000.

Farm principal Mark Chittick was rapt with this year’s results, particularly in light of the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 protocols.

“Under the circumstances, it is quite incredible,” Chittick said.

“We entered these horses for the sale back in July when we thought everyone was going to be here.

“I wanted a really nice line-up of horses to put in front of everybody at our national sale and unfortunately not everyone who was wanting to be here could be here.

“This whole industry, whether Australasia or worldwide, has rallied around.

“One of the most pleasing things is that international buyers that couldn’t be here still recognise the quality of the New Zealand product and the results we have been achieving, mostly in Australia.

“They have stumped up and bought the product and all the figures are up, including ours, which is great.

“The local guys that are doing the job heading into the ready-to-run sale have been very active as well.

“Everybody should be pretty proud of what has gone on.”

While it was great to get the results with his two highest priced yearlings, Chittick said the personal highlight for him was seeing lot 618, the Savabeel filly out of Style By Design, sell to the $525,000 bid of Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“We have got an incredible team. They live and breathe it,” Chittick said.

“Mike Rennie, our Business Manager, and Jaimee Gowler, our Bloodstock Manager, are involved in that filly. They bought the mare (Style By Design).

“We are in partnership together and we bred her to Savabeel. She is only the first foal and there is another one following behind her.

“I love young people having a go and putting their heart and soul into our business and the horse business.

“To have those guys involved and get a result like that has been one of the highlights for me.”

While he is celebrating the success of the past week, Chittick said there is plenty to look forward to in the year ahead.

“We work hard, it is an up and down sort of game, but there have been a few ups this week and hats off to everybody,” he said.

“What we have really got to look forward to over the next year is the first crop of Super Seth. They are fantastic foals.

“Ardrossans will be on the racetrack over the next 12 months as well.

“The sale that Tivaci has had has been quite incredible, he is really starting to kick goals.

“Savabeel is getting to the twilight of his career, but we are in a good place, and we are doing our best to keep ourselves there.”