Waikato Stud Update | Waikato Studs Mark Chittick (9/9/26)

0:00Chiddick is the boss at Waikato's stud. Now they had a very special award at the New Zealand Awards on Sunday night because Savable, the elite stud, who has been a wonderful horse, a incredible horse, was a great race horse too. A past away earlier this year was voted the global achievement for any New Zealand a horse or human. At the awards mark, I know it's very sad that Savable was gone, but what did it remarkable thing when you think of all those global achievers, people like Walla or James McDonald, to think they gave it to your late great Savable mate. You must have really got to kick it at them. Absolutely, Michael, like, yes, he's collected plenty of awards over his time. Obviously, he's champion stallion, etc, etc. But yeah, that one is quite unique, as you say, when you think about it's across the horse or human or whatever.

1:01So I'm very proud of him. Obviously, yes, it is sad that he's passed away, but in that it was always going to happen at some stage. And he was the oldest one that got through sort of things, so it was quick and no decisions had to be made. So this talk about breeding season, the meas are falling down, that's what we call it when horses said babies. How many babies would be on the ground at Waikato stud and how many would be there by no then, but how many meas would you fold down at Waikato stud over the next three or four months? Yeah, so a bit of a different year for us this year, Michael, with Savable not being here and with some super Seth making his way over the Tasman there to call more. So like in the past, in the past we have fold up to 350. Over the last few years it's been somewhere between 250 and 300.

2:03This year will be round about 200 by the end of it sort of thing and at this stage we've got 60 on the ground. So we've had a great start and you know, to be two months into the folding part of it and be more or less a third of the way through is really good. But you've been involved with the advisory committee who helped plan a new pathway potentially for New Zealand Racing. That is now seen in establishment board put together so some actual action on some of the recommendations from the advisory committee. Are you happy with how that's being picked up on where things are going? Are we actually making progress? I really hope so. I really hope so, like to be involved over with that for the last year or 18 months it was a massive, massive learning curve for me and obviously there's still lots to learn. But I think the biggest thing was what came out of it the first half was learning and then

3:11learning where we are at and where we're heading and that became, once we had the facts in front of us it became quite frightening and then honestly the amount of work that board put in but in particular, in particular, you know, three or four of them, you know, the likes obviously of Greg Thomson and Brennan Lindsay and Steve Thompson down there. The work that they put in was absolutely incredible. All in their own time, all at their own cost and like that. I mean, you know, like with the recommendations that came out of that, you know, guys that have incredible achievers like they are. You know, I hope something is taken on board and I've got to say, like all of us we were hoping that they were in place and let's say being exercised sooner than now. But that hasn't seemed to have worked as yet.

4:13So I don't know whether we call it last resort or what, whether establishment board, but let's hope that they are successful. And I think with that establishment board being led by Greg Thomson, yes, we are a chance of getting some of these things done and hope, making a difference in future proofing industry which all jokes aside New Zealand is very good at, you know, for the next generations to come. Like we hear the Timberspan, Sir Colin Meads trophy at Hastings on Saturday, great name for a race. And you have just in case back at the races for your trainer, Chris Schailler, Barry at 9 may not be a disaster on a wet track, but it's his first run back. Where is the at and should our sport nation listeners be backing him? Look, we went into the track yesterday morning and watched his last gallup. Now just in case he is, he's an absolute cruiser, he's a cool horse and Chris has done a

5:20wonderful job with him. And obviously he's competed in a good company and stood up to that. He's had a good break, he's certainly Sam Collett coming back and off the track yesterday. Yeah, he's really strengthened up, he said she can feel it underneath him now. He's got more muscle, strengthened up, feeling well, very, very happy horse. And look, we're just, we're just wrapped to be getting back to the races, racing in a black type race at Hawkes Bay. It's really exciting and he's well, he gallup beautifully yesterday. Chris will leave no stone unturned. And should you be backing him? Look, I'll definitely be backing him each way, he's honestly never lets us down and he's got ability. So yeah, let's put a dollar on and keep the fingers crossed. Mark, thanks for your work on the advisory committee. Congratulations to you and the rest of the team at Waikato, start on 7 Beals

6:21Postures Award. Good luck with just in case we look forward to talking to you more over the sprint. Go man, Michael. All the best. Mark, cheers.