Bitter blow for Waikato Stud as young stallion Sacred Falls dies at ten

New Zealand farm Waikato Stud has suffered a bitter blow, with the sudden death of young stallion Sacred Falls, a son of the Chittick family’s influential sire O’Reilly, after a short battle with a rare illness.

The ten-year-old dual-Doncaster Mile and four-time Group 1 winner, whose eldest progeny are three-year-olds, died early on Saturday after veterinarians were unable to ward off liver disease diagnosed only weeks earlier.

Sacred Falls, who was bred and sold by Waikato Stud to agent Guy Mulcaster for NZ$160,000 at the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, was owned by the Raffles Racing syndicate and he went on to win his first six starts for trainer Tony Pike.

Among them was the 2012 New Zealand 2,000 Guineas before Garry and Mark Chittick bought back into the then three-year-old with a view of continuing the successful O’Reilly sire-line that had served Waikato Stud so well.

He was then transferred to Australia under the care of Chris Waller where he would win a further three Group 1 races including back-to-back Doncaster Miles at Randwick in 2013 and 2014.

The issue with Sacred Falls’ liver was identified two weeks ago, near the end of his fifth season at stud, by Waikato Stud veterinarians who treated him before he was transferred to the Matamata Veterinary Services equine hospital, but he could not be saved.

“It’s been a very tough morning for all the team here as Sacred Falls has been such a cool horse to be involved with,” Mark Chittick said.

“He had a wonderful temperament and a really engaging personality and all the staff here just love him.

“He meant a lot to us all, especially as he had played such a big part in our lives during some very tough times.”

Sacred Falls’ brilliant racetrack career was at its peak around the time his own sire O’Reilly died and Chittick’s first wife Lisa succumbed to leukaemia in May 2014.

“When Lisa was sick and receiving treatment, Sacred Falls brought plenty of joy for us when he won the Doncaster Handicap in 2013 and again in 2014,” he said.

“When O’Reilly died, Sacred Falls had just arrived at the stud so it was like the torch had been passed from father to son so he was a very special horse for us all.

“I have nothing but praise for our head vet, Dr Chris Phillips, his team and all the staff at Matamata Vet Services as they did everything in their power to try and save the horse but it just wasn’t to be.”

Waikato Stud has invested heavily in recent years in new stallion talent to back up their perennial champion Savabeel, with the first yearlings by Group 1-winning sprinter Tivaci heading to the 2020 yearling sales expected to be well sought after.

Chittick also secured a controlling interest in this season’s Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth to ensure he stands at Waikato Stud when his racing career is over, while well-performed sprinter Ardrossan went to stud this year.

Sacred Falls had arguably made a slow start with his first crop progeny, but his six individual winners so far include three-time Adelaide winner Holy Dancer and the successful Brisbane filly Champagne Tools,

In New Zealand, the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Shoshone is set to re-emerge this season after she showcased her talent with a dominant debut victory at Ellerslie in June.

Sacred Falls has 42 yearlings catalogued for January’s NZB Karaka Yearling Sale and his progeny sold up to NZ$260,000 at last month’s NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs.

His own half-brother, by Savabeel, was bought by agent Willie Leung of Magus Equine for client Jackie Wong at the Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs for NZ$440,000.

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