One of the superstars of New Zealand racing could return home after looking certain to be lost to Australia.
Group 1-winning sprinting star Levante was retired to stud in April but was a notable absentee from last week’s broodmare sale on the Gold Coast, even though she was scheduled to head there for public auction.
Her breeder Phillip Brown, of Ancroft Stud, instead bought out most of Levante’s other owners, with one retaining a small share before Brown then struck a deal with Australian breeding giant Arrowfield Stud.
That will see Levante visit Arrowfield’s champion stallion Snitzel in the spring and while she is likely to visit an Arrowfield stallion, possibly Snitzel again, the following season, Brown hopes to return her to New Zealand at some stage.
“I’d love to think she could be in foal to a top stallion in a few years and living in my front paddock,” says Brown.