Waikato Stud celebrates Flemington double

Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick had hoped to have two runners in Saturday’s Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, but a change of plans ultimately delivered a memorable double for the Matamata nursery.

Both bred and raced by Waikato Stud, six-year-old Savabeel mare Sun Gift (NZ) (Savabeel) claimed Group Two honours, while fellow homebred Superfabulistic (NZ) (Super Seth), a daughter of Super Seth, made the most of missing the Matriarch field with a dominant three-and-a-half-length victory in a Benchmark 84 handicap over 1600m.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Superfabulistic set the ball rolling before Sun Gift completed the double less than two hours later, taking control at the top of the straight and holding off Sunset Park in the Matriarch.

“It would have been nice to have been there, but there’s a bit going on at the farm at the moment, and we had George’s 24th birthday as well,” Chittick said.

“We were disappointed that Superfabulistic didn’t get into the Group Two but it worked out perfectly on both levels. It’s obviously a huge result.”

Sun Gift’s victory was particularly impressive given she was backing up just three days after finishing sixth in the Kyneton Cup (2000m) on a heavy track.

Trainer Danny O’Brien had always entertained the prospect of a quick turnaround, although Chittick admitted he initially had reservations.

“Danny always had it in mind to back her up after Wednesday, which I thought was a big ask, but with the track being so wet she really didn’t have much of a run at all,” he said.

“He pointed out to me that she ran a faster time over 2000m than Birdman did in the Group One later in the day.

“She was left in front on the turn but she always looked as though she was going to do it.”

Sun Gift became the second Waikato Stud-owned mare to secure black-type success for O’Brien this season, following the victory of Ocean Park mare Hurry Curry in the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m) in September.

“We kicked off the season with two mares that were stakes-placed and they are both black-type winners now,” Chittick said.

“Hurry Curry has just been served by Toronado after her win, and now Sun Gift is a Group Two winner.

“Danny has done a fantastic job and we’ve had some wonderful results together over the years.”

Sun Gift is out of the Pour Moi mare Sunniva, a half-sister to Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, who was purchased by Waikato Stud with the intention of breeding quality staying horses.

“Sun Gift in particular, I wanted to breed a Melbourne Cup horse,” Chittick said.

“I remember when I bought Sunniva, my father wondered why I would want a Pour Moi mare. I’ve had to wait a long time, but yesterday I could tell him that’s why.”

Sunniva has a Noverre colt heading to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, produced an Ardrossan filly in September and is back in foal to Noverre.

Meanwhile, Superfabulistic is a daughter of the late Fabulist, one of Waikato Stud’s most successful broodmares.

Her progeny include Australian Group One winner Icebath, high-class Hong Kong sprinter Courier Wonder and Singapore Listed winner Nowyousee.

Chittick is hopeful Superfabulistic can eventually add further black type to the family.

“It would be lovely to get black type with her at some stage,” he said.

“Gai and Adrian have done a wonderful job because she has been a handful around the barriers. With each preparation, they seem to be getting more confident with her ability and maturity.”

Sun Gift’s Matriarch triumph also provided another significant milestone for Waikato Stud’s late champion sire Savabeel, taking his tally of individual stakes winners to 160.

With his legendary sire Zabeel having produced 166 stakes winners, Chittick is hopeful Savabeel can eventually surpass that mark.

“We’ve got to get seven more to top the highest stakes-winning producer ever to stand in New Zealand, so we’re counting down and hopefully he gets there,” he said.

Chittick also reflected on an outstanding Australian spring carnival for New Zealand stallions, with the likes of Sword Of State, Savabeel, Per Incanto, Tarzino and Ace High all represented by major winners.

“New Zealand should be extremely proud of the carnival that they’ve just had throughout Australia,” he said.

“The cross-section and representation of New Zealand sires over there has just been fantastic.

“We’re good at breeding horses here, and we keep on doing it.”