Brent Gillovic’s persistence has been rewarded with a deal to bring a unique son of High Chaparral to stand at Highview Stud in 2017.
He has long been an admirer of the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Wrote and he recently completed a deal to stand him alongside current resident Bullbars.
“He’s the only Group One-winning two-year-old son of High Chaparral in the world,” Gillovic said.
“I was first alerted to the horse by an American agent and when I went to the US Masters Golf at Augusta in 2015 and I went down to Florida to see him.
“I liked what I saw, he’s very much in the image of his sire – a powerful, correct horse and I had hoped to purchase him, but he is owned by a group who had bought him as part of a package of horses to race and they aren’t interested in selling him.
“I couldn’t get the horse out of my mind and last year I made more inquires. Now, I’ve managed to acquire him as a shuttle stallion and I couldn’t be more excited.”
The Irish-bred won three of his nine starts for Aidan O’Brien and apart from his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf win he was also placed at Group Two level in the Newmarket Royal Lodge Stakes, UAE Derby at Meydan and in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown in Ireland.
“He was subsequently retired a sound horse and went to stud,” Gillovic said.
“He’s got two-year-olds getting ready in Florida now. I saw his first five foals in 2015 and they were very nice individuals that were held in high regard.”
High Chaparral is well known to New Zealand breeders, having crossed famously well with Kiwi mares, to produce horses the ilk of So You Think, It’s A Dundeel, Shoot Out, Descarado and Monaco Consul.
Wrote’s dam Desert Classic (Green Desert) hails from one of the best stallion families in the world. Her third dam is Special, the mother of Nureyev and grand-dam of Sadler’s Wells and Fairy King. It is also the family of Stravinksy, who enjoyed success in New Zealand.
Wrote is currently in quarantine in Kentucky and following a further period of quarantine when he arrives in New Zealand in mid-June he will take up residence at Highview in July.
“We’re going to stand Wrote at $5000 + GST and he represents a marvellous opportunity at that fee,” said Gillovic.
“I think there are finally a lot more encouraging signs in the industry and hopefully more people will be returning to breeding.
“There is a shortage of horses coming through the system and so there has never been a better time to breed.
“We have approximately 50 resident mares at Highview and a large proportion of those will visit Wrote in his first season.”
