Lot 601 Almanzor - Bavella Brown Filly

Lot 601 brown filly Almanzor – Bavella (Snitzel) $400,000 (draft: Cambridge Stud)

Te Akau principal David Ellis struck with a first crop progeny of Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) when Dynastic won the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) in 2022, and the sire has continued to make a great impact on the Australasian scene.

The stable was also represented by Almanzor staying filly Mehzebeen, who finished runner-up in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) last season and recently won impressively in the Taupo Cup (Open Handicap, 2000m).

Almanzor (Wotton Bassett) was European Champion Three-Year-Old, claiming the same titles in Ireland and France, and already represented by VRC Derby (Gr. 1, 2500m) winner Manzoice, recent impressive Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner Sudbina, and Wellington Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner and Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) runner-up Zabmanzor.

The filly is out of Bavella, who impressed winning on debut as a two-year-old before winning the Counties 2YO Stakes (Listed, 1100m) and finishing fourth in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m).

She carried on her very good stakes form as a three-year-old and finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m).

This is her first foal. Bavella is by the four-time Champion Sire in Australia, Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who serves so well the trilogy of Danehill – Redoute’s Choice – Snitzel, which is unrivalled in great Australian thoroughbreds.

Snitzel was the Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds four times and also been leading Australian Sire of earnings worldwide.

Her grand-dam, Zonza (Zabeel), was also an impressive Group Three winner of five races from 1400m – 2000m, and left three individual winners of seven races, including Bavella and Queensland Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner Pinarello (Tavistock).

“It’s a fantastically talented family and we’re excited to be able to buy the first foal from this very good Snitzel filly,” said David Ellis.

“We know firsthand how high a quality horses Almanzor can leave and to get first dibs of the resultant yearling is exciting.

“We rated her as the best Almanzor filly in the sale and to have that backed up Snitzel and Zabeel on the dam line is hard to beat.

“She has plenty of quality and strength, been beautifully prepared by Cambridge Stud, and has everything in the right place.

“She certainly has the pedigree to make a racehorse and anything she does on the track will just add to her residual value later in her career as a broodmare.”

The filly carries a Nureyev cross on the sire line of Almanzor and dam line of Bavella, while Bavella has a cross of breed shaping sire Danehill.

This includes pedigree research/analysis & sale expenses at cost, as well as full pre purchase veterinary inspection & x-ray examination. Your share of post-sale transport, Karaka 2YO and 3YO Million entry, Pearl Bonus Series entry (fillies only), insurance, post-sale shoe removal & drench  additional. Ongoing costs per month approx. $490 +GST per 10% share. Full disclosure document is available on request. Prices quoted are NZD.