Staphanos heads Novara Park roster

[Wandering Eyes]

Staphanos parading at Novara Park. Photo: supplied

Luigi Muollo’s Novara Park Stud near Cambridge will stand four stallions this season, spear-headed by exciting young stallion Staphanos at $15,000 + GST.

The son of Deep Impact is the sire of Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Pignan from his first crop, with the Lisa Latta-trained filly carrying all the traits of her Group One performed sire.

“Lisa Latta and Joe Doyle (jockey) both said that she was the toughest filly there. That’s what Staphanos puts into his horses and I’m looking forward to Pignan next season once she gets to a mile and beyond,” Muollo said.

“When you go back in history and see which stallions left a two-year-old Group One winner from their first crop, the only ones in recent history were Makfi and Per Incanto, and both ended up siring multiple Group One winners and became very successful sires so the future for Staphanos is going to be very exciting.

“Clearly the Deep Impact blood has had astonishing results this season in New Zealand with Satono Aladdin siring the unbeaten two-year-old Tokyo Tycoon and the dual Oaks winner Pennyweka.

“I am super excited about a number of trial winners and performers that are coming through. Remembering that Staphanos was at his best over middle distance races and you can really picture his progeny excelling when they get out to 1600m, 2000m and 2400m.”

Barnmate Sweynesse will also have a fee increase to $10,000 + GST with his progeny headed by outstanding Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Sweynesse.

The world’s highest-rated sprinter this year, Lucky Sweynesse joined exulated company with a runaway win in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) as he claimed Hong Kong’s three-race Speed Series.

The Manfred Man-trained four-year-old had earlier won the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and potentially could target the $15 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney in spring.

“Sweynesse has had a sensational season,” Muollo said. “He is the leading New Zealand sire in Hong Kong based on earnings. Sweynesse is also the leading New Zealand sire in Hong Kong on winners to runners.”

“At Karaka 2023, Sweynesse averaged over 10 times his service fee and at the Ready to Run sale he averaged over 13 times his service fee. We will only see more demand for his progeny.”

King Of Comedy, a Group One performed son of Kingman, remains at an unchanged fee of $7,000 + GST as he enters his third season at stud, having covered 190 mares across his first two seasons.

“King Of Comedy has the looks, pedigree and racetrack performance to be a hit at stud. His first-born foals are now weanlings and look very strong and balanced,” Muollo said.

Group One-winning stallion Press Statement completes the Novara Park quartet, joining the stud ahead of this coming breeding season.

He is already the sire of 118 individual winners for more than $13 million in earnings, including six stakes winners and six stakes performers.

Press Statement has an outstanding record with his progeny in New Zealand, with 80 percent winners and 20 percent stakes winners-to-runners, headed by Listed Levin Stakes (1200m) winner Hold The Press.

Press Statement will stand at a fee of $6,000 + GST.

“Novara Park is always looking at offering upside and value for money to breeders,” Muollo said. “Our stallion line-up offers breeders the best bloodlines in the world while our fees give our clients affordability.”

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