Wandjina heads south to Larneuk Stud

Written by Jessica Owers

Larneuk Stud in Euroa has announced that Wandjina will join its stallion roster in Victoria for the upcoming breeding season, at a fee of $8800 (inc GST). A winner of the G1 Australian Guineas through a strong track career, the stallion has spent the last six seasons standing at Newgate before this week’s announcement of his relocation.

Bred by Arrowfield Stud, Wandjina was a million-dollar yearling for James Harron in 2013, by Snitzel from the exceptional broodmare La Bamba (Last Tycoon {Ire}).

Trained by Gai Waterhouse, the horse was a barnstorming Guineas winner, an acclaimed 9l above standard with an additional victory in the G3 C.S. Hayes. He was also second to Dissident in the G1 All Aged S.

Throughout his career, Wandjina defeated the likes of Stratum Star, Kermadec (NZ) and Testashadow (Testa Rossa), and retired to Newgate in 2015 with a respectable and proven career behind him.

A VOBIS option

“We had discussions with Newgate last year about bringing him down,” said Neville Murdoch, studmaster at Larneuk Stud. “I thought he’d be a beautiful horse for Victoria.”

Newgate opted to keep Wandjina in the Hunter Valley last year with the emergence of G2 Skyline S. winner Mamaragan, but the stallion arrives at Larneuk this week to join fellow stallions Cluster, who has done so well with boom country 2-year-old Rocket Tiger, and first-season sire Wolf Cry.

Murdoch said Wandjina was a top prospect for the local market.

“Where else are you going to go for a horse like him at $8800?" the studmaster said. “He’s a very good option for our VOBIS scheme in Victoria, and he’s had winners and stakes-placed horses. We’ve priced him accordingly and he’ll go very well, I should think.”

With just three crops of racing age to date, Wandjina has kicked goals. Skyline winner Mamaragan came from his second crop and, in addition to his prolific win, Mamaragan was placed in Farnan’s Golden Slipper and in King’s Legacy’s G1 Sires’ Produce S.

In addition, Wandjina got the five-time stakes-placed Wandabaa, who is trained by Kris Lees and was a last-start third in the G2 Sapphire S. during The Championships.

There’s also Group 2-placed Express Pass and Rocky My Wand, along with black type 2-year-olds Deep Chill, Grand Scholar and Wanaroo.

Plans afoot

Wandjina’s arrival at Larneuk will spike an exciting upcoming season for the Gooram operation, which is punching heavily in its market. Murdoch has more plans afoot, so he moved along O’Lonhro this year to Wagga, to the Murray Cod Thoroughbreds home of good friend Noel Penfold (who co-owns Rocket Tiger).

“O’Lonhro is a very smart horse, and Noel is an absolute superstar,” Murdoch said. “We’ve done a lot of business together over the years, and we race a few horses together.”

Rocket Tiger has been the highlight recently for Cluster, running second in the G2 Silver Slipper S. and third in the G3 Black Opal S., but Cluster also had an impressive 2l winner at Sale on Tuesday by the name of Serious Sarah.

Meanwhile, first-season sire Wolf Cry has had only three runners hit the turf, but among them is Group 2-placed Wolves and the 5.5l winner General Wolffe.

Both Cluster and Wolf Cry will stand the upcoming season at $6600 (inc GST).

“We’ve got a pretty exciting future ahead with our stallions,” Murdoch said, “and overall we’re really happy with the way the farm is going. We’ve got a lot less value-type horses here, but better type-pedigree racehorses for what we do.”

Murdoch added that as a second-standing stallion, Wandjina would be among the most high-profile stallions to arrive at Larneuk.

“I’ve bought a number of first-season stallions, including O’Lonhro, who I bought and who was very high-profile at the time of his retirement,” the studmaster said. “Wandjina has already got winners and stakes horses to his name, so for us, and for Victoria, he’s a very good get.”

*All prices inclusive of GST