Cover image courtesy of Windsor Park Stud
Written by Paul Vettise
While Charm Spirit (Ire) won’t be continuing his shuttle run in 2021, Windsor Park Stud is confident the younger members of its stallion roster can step up and shoulder the responsibility.
Group producer Charm Spirit will be missing from the Windsor Park lineup this year, but Rodney Schick is bullish about the young sire talent the Cambridge farm is offering and there is excitement around high-profile newcomer Circus Maximus (Ire).
Australasian breeders have been quick to embrace the three-time Group 1 winner Circus Maximus with big numbers already locked in for the well-credentialled son of Galileo (Ire).
“Circus Maximus will arrive on August 6 and we’ve had a huge response since we announced him. He will have a big number of outside mares, over 100 already, so we couldn’t be happier,” Schick said.
"He (Circus Maximus) will have a big number of outside mares, over 100 already, so we couldn’t be happier." - Rodney Schick
“We’ll obviously be supporting him with a lot of our mares as well so he will be serving more than 150 mares no problem, which is great."
Long-standing relationship
The arrival of Circus Maximus further cements the association Windsor Park has with Coolmore.
“We’ve had a really good relationship with Coolmore over a long, long time. It goes right back to Tale Of The Cat many years ago and continued with the likes of Montjeu, High Chaparral, Mastercraftsman and Rip Van Winkle and continuing with Circus Maximus,” Schick said.
Rodney Schick | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
The absence of Charm Spirit from the roster is due to circumstances beyond the control of the Cambridge farm.
“Charm Spirit is having a rest year at this stage. He’s done a really good job, it’s just that there has been a change of ownership and Sheikh Fahad’s father has taken him over,” Schick said.
“The horse has gone to France and I’m not saying he won’t be coming back, but he is having a year off from shuttling.”
Schick is upbeat about the prospects of the youthful trio of Turn Me Loose (NZ), Rageese and Vanbrugh whose first crops are 2-year-olds.
“We're really excited with Turn Me Loose, who has had a stakes winner (Turn The Ace), and Vanbrugh has an exciting one in Mustang Valley while Rageese was unlucky not to get his first winner (Ridgers) in Australia on Saturday.
“While they all performed as 2-year-olds, their pedigrees indicate their progeny will be better as three and 4-year-olds.”
Turn The Ace (NZ) (blue and yellow silks) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Solid results
Both Shamexpress (NZ) and Mongolian Khan are further on in their stallion careers and progressing well.
“Shamexpress had a great weekend with a winner on Finals’ Day at Flemington and a 2-year-old winner at Ruakaka,” Schick said.
Promising 3-year-old Seiners Express (NZ) was successful in the Silver Bowl Series Final while Tsunami Sam (NZ) was a winner on debut for Shamexpress, whose leading representative to date is the dual Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter Coventina Bay (NZ).
“Mongolian Khan has had winners in Australia and they are staying horses like himself and will take a bit more time. He’s going along really well and has a number of good spring prospects,” Schick said.
Mongolian Khan has produced 14 winners this season with his only black-type performer to date the Listed Tasmanian Oaks placegetter My Squeeze Louise (NZ).
