A breathless Mark Chittick was struggling to find the right words to describe his thoughts just moments after a youngster from resident sire Savabeel smashed the auction ring record for a Waikato Stud yearling.
Lot 192, the Savabeel colt out of Pins mare Make A Wish, held the Karaka audience spellbound as a brief but fierce bidding war erupted soon after the flashy brown juvenile made his way into the auditorium.
An opening bid of NZ$800,000 drew an audible gasp before the big guns rolled up their sleeves and went to war. When the dust settled in was Te Akau supremo David Ellis who outlasted international Bloodstock agent Rob McAnulty to secure the colt for NZ$1.4 million.
That result smashed the 2018 record achieved by Waikato Stud when their Savabeel ex Posy filly sold for $875,000.
A visibly affected Chittick was trying hard to keep a lid on his emotions when questioned about the sale.
“Phew, where do we start,” Chittick said.
“He is probably one of the most outstanding horses we have ever brought to the sales.
“The comments we were getting said he was the nicest horse that people had seen at the sale.
“We didn’t have a reserve (price) as I knew he would sell well. He has exceeded expectations.
“There was massive competition from all the big players.
“Te Akau do a wonderful job, bought a beautiful horse and bought a horse off us last year that they won the Karaka Million with.
“They are flying with the Savabeels, like anybody is, who have got them.
“It is just a huge thrill for us, for Savabeel and for New Zealand.”