Young Sires Rewarded in New Zealand

Belardo (Lope de Vega-Danaskaya, by Danehill) has been crowned New Zealand's Champion First Season Sire with progeny earnings of $208,194 and three black type performers, reports racingnews.co.nz. His three black type 2YOs were Listed Welcome Stakes and Karaka Million placed Avonallo (Belardo-Real Angel, by O'Reilly), Gr2 placed Fonsallette (Belardo-Medrano, by General Nediym), and Listed placed Yeaboi (Belardo-Spiffy Iffie, by Iffraaj). "Belardo has certainly made a great start and to take out the Champion First Season Sire title is credit to all the broodmare owners who have supported him," Haunui Farm's Managing Director Mark Chitty said. "He's left some early running types but I think we might see some nice Classic horses this season and beyond, perhaps along the lines of what we've seen from his grand-sire, Shamardal, and if Belardo can be half as good a stallion, we'll be very happy." The Champion Second Season Sire title went to Mapperley Stud's Contributer (High Chaparral-Serisia, by Exit to Nowhere) with 13 individual winners and $354,916 in progeny earnings. His 3YO filly Llanacord (Contributer-L'Accord, by Golan) won the Gr2 Lowland Stakes and was Gr1-placed in the NZ Oaks, and he had several other stakes performers too. While it doesn't add to his NZ earnings, Contributor also sired Gr1 Randwick Guineas winner Lion's Roar (Contributer-Minnaleo, by Black Minnaloushe).

Contributer took out second season honours (pic: Mapperley Stud)