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Matamata stud on a roll heading into RTR Sale
Paul Vettise • November 10th, 2025 12:52 pm
Waikato Stud galloper Magice after winning at Pukekohe on Saturday | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Waikato Stud was a dominant force at Pukekohe with a hat-trick of winners, and the premier nursery is hoping their celebrations continue this week during New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale.
The Matamata farm’s colours were carried to victory on Saturday by the exciting Smart Love and Magice while graduate Princess Elly showcased trainer Craig Ivil’s skills with a first-up middle-distance victory.
Waikato will offer seven youngsters at the RTR Sale at Karaka on Wednesday and Thursday and a further half a-dozen in partnership with Ohukia Lodge.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared Smart Love continued her hot form at Pukekohe where the daughter of Savabeel and the O’Reilly mare Relentless Desire posted her fourth consecutive win from six appearances.
“She was retained and is in (father) Garry’s name after a colt out of the mare was sold for a lot of money and since then she has changed over to Waikato Stud ownership,” Mark Chittick said.
Smart Love’s brother Incessant was knocked down for $850,000 at Karaka and won from a handful of starts in Australia before relocating to Hong Kong where he races as Bucephalas.
“We’ve got a Noverre filly that we’re looking toward the Sydney Easter Sale with, and she’s also got an Ardrossan filly at foot, and the mare has tested positive to Super Seth,” Chittick said.
Savabeel four-year-old Magice was a winner last season from Glenn Old’s stable before he crossed the Tasman.
“Once again, he was retained in Garry’s name and went over to Peter Moody but had to get a bone chip taken out and when he came back he was gelded,” Chittick said.
“He’s trained here at Courtza Park by Kris Shailer and it was Garry’s decision to leave him with Kris as a racing project and he’s done an extremely good job with him.
“We’re very fortunate to have him as part of the Waikato team, he’s very skilful and does all our pre-training.”
Magice is a brother to Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner and resident stallion Noverre, with their dam the Group-winning Rip Van Winkle mare Magic Dancer, who has a yearling Savabeel filly.
Shailer also prepares Banquo two-year-old Justin Case, a debut second at Pukekohe.
“He was broken in by Jamie Beatson (Ohukia Lodge) and was going to the RTR Sale, but he really liked him, so I said let’s go halves and race him,” Chittick said.
His dam is the Savabeel mare Do Ra Mi, winner of the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) when trained by Moody.
Meanwhile, a Waikato Stud favourite in Ohukia’s consignment for the RTR Sale is Lot 172, a son of Super Seth and the Savabeel mate Touting who is closely related to Group winners Love Affair, Somepin Anypin and Rule Of Engagement.
“I really like preparing horses for the RTR, but it’s not a big thing for us although it’s something we’re going to look at in the future, and the reason is because at this time of the year we are flat out,” Chittick said.
“I’m guided by the people who have done all the work and we’re in partnership with the ones with Ohukia and Jamie has spoken very highly of the Super Seth,” Chittick said.
Waikato Stud’s draft features a quartet of sons by Ardrossan, two by Noverre and a representative of Ocean Park.
