Highview Stud newcomers Divine Prophet and Santos are receiving warm welcomes from the New Zealand breeding community.
The proven pair have relocated from Australia to join Wrote at the Waikato farm, with Divine Prophet’s profile further boosted this season by the deeds of his Group One-producing brother Proisir.
Santos has also enjoyed a timely boost in New Zealand with his juvenile daughter Ulanova winning three of her six starts this season, including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
“The initial response was pretty good, it comes in waves and then it went a bit quiet. I think breeders go into hibernation with the way the weather has been and it’s picking up again now so I’m pretty pleased,” Highview’s Brent Gillovic said.
Divine Prophet won three of his 10 starts for trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, including the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Gr.3 Up & Coming Stakes (1300m) and placed in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m).
During his time at Aquis Farm he has sired Gr.2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) winner See You In Heaven and the Gr.2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) winner Promitto.
“Divine Prophet is a Caulfield Guineas winner and he’s a beautiful horse. He’s a real character, a really kind and lovely horse who has grown on the team here,” Gillovic said.
“He’s beautifully balanced and walks like a panther and he was also Group One placed as a two-year-old.
“He’s a brother to Proisir so obviously the female pedigree knicks with New Zealand mares.”
Santos won twice during a brief career, including the Skyline Stakes at Randwick, and the former Aquis stallion is the only son of I Am Invincible at stud in New Zealand.
“He’s a big boy and got a Group One winner out of his first crop. Looking at him you wouldn’t think he would be leaving two-year-olds, but he was a pretty good two-year-old himself,” Gillovic said.
“You can’t beat his sire line and a lot of people are interested in him.”
High Chaparral’s son Wrote was a high-class performer who won three races during a light career including the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m).
He has been represented this season by the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) runner-up Best Seller and the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) winner Wrote To Arataki.
“With a bit of luck he’ll have a really good spring, he’s got some nice horses here and in Melbourne,” Gillovic said.
“I’ve got one called Lispector, who I’ve kept a leg of and it’s with Mick Price. It ran fifth first-up over 1100m at Geelong the other day after getting caught three wide so it was a good run and he’s probably a miler.
“Brad Spicer has got one (Write Your Own) with Lindsey Smith and they think a bit of it because they approached me and bought the full sister as well.
“There’s another one with Danny O’Brien called Morpheus Bragi and he’s won a couple and Wrote’s had two starters in Hong Kong for two winners.”
