Foundation Family to the Fore

Not many families in the New Zealand stud book are as prevalent as the Haunui foundation family with 45 stakes winners and a further 22 stakes performers at last count. And last weekend’s Group winning performance by Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) cemented one of it’s members, a very special place in the family legacy.

Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom) is a prime example of one of racing’s “what if” stories. A G3 winning 3YO, she crossed the Tasman in the Winter of 2008 with some lofty targets and was at one point, the pre-post favourite for the Queensland Oaks. But injury curtailed her career and since retiring has joined the elite in terms of broodmares, producing three Group winners from her first three foals – Vilanova (NZ) (Commands), Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Celebrity Dream.

Valpolicella is pictured to the right with her 2018 foal, a colt by Iffraaj

A family that produces colts and fillies, Haunui Farm will offer just four members of the family at Karaka 2019. In Book 1, two colts will represent – Lot 239 an Iffraaj colt out of Moselle (NZ) (Align). His full brother sold for $160,000 in 2018. Lot 646 is another Iffraaj colt, this time out of young Zabeel mare, Colombelle (NZ).

Book 2 features the only filly to be offered from the family in Haunui draft, Lot 711 by Starspangledbanner out of Equestrienne (NZ) (Lonhro) a daughter of Medrano (AUS) (General Nediym) who is the dam of Haunui’s other Book 2 foundation family member, Lot 802 by Per Incanto.

Haunui’s yearlings are in their last week of preparation and will ship into Karaka in just over a week’s time. Our online yearling brochure is underway and will go live next Thursday, 17th of January featuring photos and videos of each lot in the draft. The yearlings will be ready to parade at Karaka from midday, Monday 21st January.