Waikato Stud are preparing to farewell their blue-blooded Group One producer Rios.
The regally-bred son of champion sire Hussonet will be offered for sale this week by online thoroughbred auctioneer www.gavelhouse.co.nz
“He’s a wonderful horse to do anything with and his strike rate has been extremely admirable, but we feel it’s time to let someone else have a chance with him,” stud principal Mark Chittick said.
Rios is the sire of 17 winners (42.9% winners-to-runners ratio) and his impressive statistics include 75% winners-to-runners in Australia and 62% winners-to-runners for progeny three years and over.
International demand for his progeny is on the rise with winners across five countries – Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.
Despite light representation from five crops, the 13-year-old has achieved success at the highest level with his son Gaultier winning the Group 1 Levin Classic.
Rios was a quality act himself on the track and won six races, including the Group 2 Wellington Guineas and the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes. He also finished third in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and runner-up in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes in Sydney. He trained on at four to win the Listed Anzac Handicap before his retirement to Waikato Stud in 2009 where he stood at $4000.
Rios is a half-brother to the Group 1 Australian Derby winner and Group 1 Caulfield Cup runner-up Roman Emperor.
They are out of the Last Tycoon mare Gussy Godiva, a half-sister to the New Zealand-bred Black Mamba who achieved international fame as the winner of the Group 1 John Mabee Handicap at Del Mar in the United States. – Waikato Stud release
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