Waikato Stud are preparing to farewell their blue-blooded Group One producer Rios with the son of champion sire Hussonet offered for sale online at 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.
Despite light representation from five crops, he has achieved success at the highest level with his son Gaultier winning the Gr.1 Levin Classic.
A Group Two winner and Group One-placed, Rios is a half-brother to the Gr.1 Australian Derby winner and Gr.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 won the Gr.1 John Mabee Handicap at Del Mar in the United States.