Stravinsky Sale-Topper Named

The yearling colt that scooped the revered 'top lot' status when he was knocked down for $2.2m at Karaka 2006, has been named Saperavi.

Te Akau Stud principal, David Ellis, secured the Stravinsky half-brother to multiple group one winner Darci Brahma from the draft of Peter and Philip Vela's Pencarrow Stud at the National Yearling Sales Series earlier this year.

Ellis reports that the rising two-year-old is named after a well known and widely used red wine grape from the Russian region. The Russian vine has been productive since 1886 and is noted for improving with maturity.

"The name endeavours to bridge both sides of the colt's family," said Ellis, who purchased the high-profile youngster on behalf of a syndicate.

"Of nine names submitted by share-holders, seven were available for registration at NZ Thoroughbred Racing. These were placed into a hat and the name Saperavi was drawn out at random."

Saperavi returned to Pencarrow Stud for three weeks after being bought at Karaka and was then broken in at Matamata by Paul Pertab before joining Te Akau Racing Stables three weeks ago.

He has pleased trainer Mark Walker with his progress in his early education, which includes barrier practice and swimming, and will be given a quiet jumpout on the course-proper on Thursday.

"After that he will go out for a spell and return to Mark's stable in time to trial in November - December," said Ellis. "The plan is to focus on the group one juvenile races in New Zealand next autumn."

Saperavi is the third foal from the Gr I Australasian Oaks winner, Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel x Richebourg).  The 2006-07 season will see the birth of another Grand Echezeaux off-spring, a filly by Australian sire sensation Redoute's Choice.

Grand Echezeaux was scanned 62 days after conceiving and the scan revealed a filly.