Written by Paul Vettise
The Hawkins family achieved a long-held Karaka ambition during Book 1 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with the sale of a homebred filly by Savabeel under their Wentwood Grange banner.
She was purchased by agent Guy Mulcaster for clients of Chris Waller’s stable for NZ$500,000 and while Lot 379 isn’t the most expensive yearling Wentwood has ever sold, she delivered them a special result.
“It was great for Mum and Dad, they’ve always wanted to sell a half-million dollar horse,” son Dean Hawkins said. “We sold yearlings over NZ$500,000 before, but never one we have bred ourselves. We had a NZ$350,000 reserve on her so we were stoked.”
Lot 379 - Savabeel x Valley Girl (NZ) (filly)
The daughter of Savabeel is the second foal of the family’s G1 Herbie Dyke S. winner Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and they also raced her mother Leigh Valley (NZ) (Bianconi {USA}), winner of the G3 Cuddle S.
“Valley Girl is in foal to The Autumn Sun and she’s got a Savabeel colt at foot,” Hawkins said. “We kept her first foal by Kermadec.”
“Valley Girl is in foal to The Autumn Sun and she’s got a Savabeel colt at foot.” – Dean Hawkins
Wentwood is also still breeding from Leigh Valley, who has a Darci Brahma (NZ) filly at foot and is safely back in foal to the multiple Group 1 winner.
The farm enjoyed a royal time during Book 1 with 26 lots sold for NZ$4.2 million at an average of NZ$161,538.
Guy Mulcaster
“It was totally unexpected. If you’d have told us that before the sale we would have laughed,” Hawkins said. “It helps to keep everything going.
“New Zealand Bloodstock has done a terrific job and I went on a tour to Victoria and (brother) Sean went to Canberra beforehand, but it was a hard sale to predict.
“It was just so good to see all the Australian buyers here and we’ve had a great time.”
“It was just so good to see all the Australian buyers here and we’ve had a great time.” – Dean Hawkins
Wentwood sold 18 six-figure yearlings, including a son of Teofilo (Ire), Lot 658, to Breeze Up Bloodstock, of China, for NZ$330,000.
The colt is a brother to Kermadec (NZ), winner of the G1 Doncaster H. and the G1 George Main S. and a NZ$260,000 Karaka graduate for Wentwood in 2013.
Their dam is the stakes winner Hy Fuji (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), who is a half-sister to the dam of the Group 3 winning siblings Moss Trip (Mossman) and Triple Elegance and is in foal to Ribchester (Ire).
Lot 658 - Teofilo (Ire) x Hy Fuji (colt)
Wentwood Grange was established in the Waikato in 2000 by Des and Jan Hawkins and is now run by their sons Sean, Dean and Leigh. They operate three farms and a broodmare band of around 120.
Its cracking Karaka returns came off the back of notable results for past graduates, most notably this season’s G1 Epsom H. and the inaugural Golden Eagle winner Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
