Star Karaka Graduates to Stud

The outstanding racetrack exploits of Group One winning Karaka graduates Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) and Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City) have been rewarded with the opportunity to embark on new careers at highly respected New Zealand stud farms.

It was announced late last month that Mongolian Khan would begin stud duties at Windsor Park Stud this spring.

That announcement was followed this week by another major addition to New Zealand’s stallion ranks. Vespa will join the stallion roster of Wellfield Lodge in Palmerston North.

Mongolian Khan made two visits to the Karaka sale ring. He was offered by Ainsley Downs Stud at the 2013 Select Sale, where Waikato Bloodstock purchased him for $140,000. He returned later that year for the Ready to Run Sale, where the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group secured him for $220,000.

Carrying the now-famous red and white colours of the Rider Horse Group, Mongolian Khan raced 17 times for eight wins and more than $3.9 million in prize-money. He became the first horse since Bonecrusher in 1986 to win both the Group 1 New Zealand Derby and the Group 1 Australian Derby, and he later added the Group 1 Caulfield Cup. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained superstar is the only horse in history to win all three of those famous races.

“Windsor Park is delighted to have purchased 50% of the champion racehorse Mongolian Khan from the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group who will retain the other half,” said Windsor Park owner Rodney Schick.

“Their president Mr Lin Lang is a passionate supporter of the New Zealand racing industry and will be backing Mongolian Khan at stud with a number of high quality broodmares which he is currently in the process of securing.

“We have enjoyed great success standing Derby winners like High Chaparral and Montjeu at Windsor Park, and with his race performance and pedigree we think Mongolian Khan ticks all the right boxes.”

Mongolian Khan will stand for an introductory stud fee of $10,000 plus GST.

Vespa is also a graduate of the 2013 Select Sale, where he was offered by Valachi Downs and purchased by the Cavallo Agistment Centre for $34,000.

Trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, Vespa had 18 starts for seven wins, five placings and more than $900,000 in stakes. In his first season of racing he won the Karaka Million and the Group 1 Diamond Stakes, clinching the title of New Zealand’s champion two-year-old. He later added another three stakes wins to his CV, along with placings in the Group 1 Easter Handicap and NRM Sprint.

A half-brother to Vespa fetched $240,000 at this year’s Premier Sale. 

“We’re always looking for opportunities and when this one came along we had to take it,” Wellfield’s Bill Gleeson said.

“Vespa is an exciting horse who will ideally complement our other two stallions Alamosa and Road To Rock.

“Vespa was a Group One and Group Two-winning sprinter and he also placed at the highest level over a mile. He was a precocious type of horse and when we put our mares over him, there is every likelihood he will leave early types who can then develop into top three-year-olds and older horses.”

A fee for Vespa will be announced next week.