Fee set for Sacred Falls

Four-time Group 1 winner Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), the latest addition to the stallion roster of Waikato Stud in Matamata, has had his fee set at NZ$30,000. The son of the late champion sire O’Reilly (NZ) remained unbeaten in six starts at two and three in his homeland, culminating in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas. Subsequently sent to Chris Waller in Australia, Sacred Falls cemented his reputation when becoming the first colt in over 50 years to record back-to-back wins in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile. He backed up one week after his second Doncaster triumph with another exceptional performance in the  Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth S., and added a victory in the G1 George Main S. in September 2014.

Waikato Stud bred Sacred Falls, who was purchased for NZ$160,000 by Guy Mulcaster at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale and started his career in the colors of the Raffles Dancers syndicate. The farm bought back into the colt following his Classic triumph, and history is now coming full circle as the 6-year-old is set to retire to the box previously occupied by his late sire. “We’ve always wanted to stand O’Reilly’s best son and this season we will be doing so,” said Waikato Stud boss Mark Chittick. “We identified Sacred Falls early in his career and it has been hugely exciting to have subsequently been a part of his two Gr.1 Doncasters and Gr.1 George Main successes with co-owner Dato Yap and the Raffles Racing team.” 

Of the other six stallions standing at Waikato, only Savabeel (Aus) (Zabeel {NZ}) is undergoing a fee change, yet a significant one. The sire of this season’s G1 New Zealand Oaks heroine Savaria (NZ) as well as multiple Group 1 winners Lucia Valentina (NZ) and Soriano (NZ) will be available at NZ$100,000 in 2015, up 66% from his 2014 fee of NZ$60,000. Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) remains at NZ$30,000, Pins (Aus) (Snippets {Aus}) at NZ$25,000, Rock ‘N’ Pop (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) at NZ$9,000, No Excuse Needed (GB) (Machiavellian) at NZ$6,000 and Rios (NZ) (Hussonet) at NZ$4,000.