Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Belardo secured last season’s title of New Zealand’s top first season sire with Yeaboi’s runner-up result in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Saturday.
Belardo finished the season with four winners from 20 runners in New Zealand, including three black-type performers.
Avonallo was Belardo’s flag bearing juvenile, having won the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton in November before placing in the $1 million Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January.
Belardo’s other stakes performers in New Zealand last season included Fonsallette, who was runner-up in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), and Yeaboi, who rounded out the season with Saturday’s runner-up effort in the Ryder Stakes.
Belardo has also made a promising start in Australia with two winners from five runners in his debut crop.
Haunui Farm’s Managing Director Mark Chitty is delighted by the result.
“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,” 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.”
Belardo will return to Haunui Farm this coming breeding season where he will stand for a fee of NZ$10,000 + GST.
