Lot 267 Proisir (AUS) – Saoirse (NZ), brown filly

Lot 267 brown filly Proisir – Saoirse (Iffraaj) $65,000 (draft: Prima Park)

By New Zealand Champion Stallion Proisir (Choisir), sire of high-quality fillies and mares: Levante, Legarto, and Prowess. 

Proisir has risen through the stallion ranks to become one of the best in New Zealand, leaving good quality racehorses, some of which, especially the fillies, have beaten the best in Australasia. 

The filly is a half-sister to former stable-mate Brando (Savabeel), purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM at Karaka. 

Winner at his second start, Brando was a stakes winner that finished second in the Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) as a three-year-old, going on to win four of five starts as he matured, including two Group Two races to 2000 metres, in a career of nine wins. 

A beautiful looking horse, Brando was the first foal from the mare and Te Akau now has his sister, Top Shelf, in training for the Fell family that own and breed from the mare. 

Preparing for the $275,000 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on Saturday 8 February at Te Rapa, Top Shelf stylishly won over 1600 metres on 2 January at Tauranga, at just her second start. 

Like dual NZ Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands), winner of 14 Group One races, bought by Ellis and trained by Te Akau, the filly is from an Iffraaj mare, in turn out of a mare by Champion Sire O’Reilly (Last Tycoon). 

“We know the mare can leave good horses, through Brando and now Top Shelf, and she has produced another beautiful specimen in this filly,” Ellis said. 

“It looks a really good cross with Proisir, who has already been a Champion Sire in New Zealand, and he leaves very good racehorses. 

“She’s a lovely walking filly, and depending on her natural precocity could be a late two-year-old type before developing into a lovely filly at three, four, and five. 

“The family is bred by the Fell family at Fairdale Stud, who have been breeding horses for over 70 years in New Zealand. They are great people, great breeders, and we also bought Champion Two-Year-Old Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) off them and he now stands at stud in Australia.” 

“It is a family that continues to improve with maturity.” 

The filly carries a beautiful cross of immortal sire Northern Dancer, through the dam line of Proisir and sire line of Saoirse.