Cover image courtesy of Windsor Park Stud
Windsor Park Stud will consign horses under its own banner at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for the first time in a long time, and one of the features of its boutique draft is the first progeny to hit the sale ring by Circus Maximus.
A son of the great Galileo (Ire), Circus Maximus (Ire) has shuttled between Coolmore in Ireland and New Zealand.
He has two yearlings entered at Bundall, both in the Windsor Park Stud draft.
Circus Maximus was a champion miler and triple Group 1 winner, with victories in the 2019 G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, 2019 G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot and 2020 G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot.
He defeated both King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Too Darn Hot (GB) in the sire-making St James’s Palace S. and his victory saw him join the brilliant Frankel (GB) as a son of Galileo to have taken out both prestigious Royal Ascot races.
Windsor Park Stud’s co-owner Rodney Schick, who is also the stud master, is adamant Circus Maximus has the credentials to be a success at stud.
“We’ve had a great association with Coolmore for many, many years, with the likes of Montjeu, High Chaparral and many others,” Schick told TTR AusNZ.
Rodney Schick | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s a high-class racehorse, a triple Group 1-winning miler in Europe.
“He won the St James’s Palace Stakes, which is one of the biggest stallion-making races in the world.”
“He (Circus Maximus) won the St James’s Palace Stakes, which is one of the biggest stallion-making races in the world.” - Rodney Schick
Circus Maximus is the lone foal of Duntle (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). She won five races, including the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot. Duntle also placed second in two Group 1s.
Circus Maximus (Ire) | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
“Those genetics are just so good to get here in New Zealand, and we’ve proven before how it can work, so we’re really excited about having one of the better sons of Galileo stand at Windsor Park,” said Schick.
“We’re really excited about having one of the better sons of Galileo stand at Windsor Park.” - Rodney Schick
Schick explained that Windsor Park Stud was eager to test the waters in Australia with Circus Maximus’ progeny, ahead of New Zealand’s premier yearling sale, the New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) Karaka Yearling Sale, which commences on January 28.
“It’s the first year of Circus Maximus, so we wanted to take a few to the Gold Coast to showcase them before Karaka. We have quite a few of them going to Karaka. He actually served the biggest book of mares that year in New Zealand, so he was well-supported,” Schick said.
“I think those horses that we have sent over to Australia will suit that market, they’re quite forward horses with nice pedigrees.”
“I think those horses that we have sent over to Australia will suit that market, they’re quite forward horses with nice pedigrees.” - Rodney Schick
Schick said he is confident Circus Maximus will be a versatile stallion, leaving precocious, early runners, as well as those that can get a trip.
“The great thing with standing those sort of stallions, the really good milers, they can leave you both a good speed horse, and if you put them over the right mares, you will get them up over ground,” he commented.
Circus Maximus (Ire) in hand | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
“We’ve always tended to stand horses that are milers, as it really suits New Zealand mares. You can work both ways within your pedigrees; if you want to send a speed mare, you can certainly do that, while if you want to get a horse that can get over ground, they will do that for you.
“He’s already left both types, he’s left some very fast-looking horses, and he’s left some more Classic, New Zealand-type horses.
“He’s (Circus Maximus) already left both types, he’s left some very fast-looking horses, and he’s left some more Classic, New Zealand-type horses.” - Rodney Schick
“He’s very exciting.”
The first Circus Maximus yearling to go through the ring at Bundall is Lot 174 - a colt from the Shamardal (USA) mare Shama de Oro, herself a half-sister to the Group 3 winner and Group 3-producing stallion Primus.
“This colt is really strong with a lot of quality, he is a very attractive horse,” Schick said.
“This colt (Lot 174) is really strong with a lot of quality, he is a very attractive horse.” - Rodney Schick
“I think he will catch the eye of Australian trainers.”
Lot 546 is a filly out of the Listed-winning mare Cora Lynn (NZ) (Golan {Ire}). That makes the filly a half-sister to the nine-time scorer and Group 3 placegetter Weona Smartone (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).
The filly’s second dam, Coraletta (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), was a winner and Listed placegetter, and she is a sister to Kaapstad Way (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) - a nine-time winner who placed in multiple Group 1s and was named Champion Older Male Miler and Stayer in New Zealand in 2001/02.
“She’s more a Classic-type, a real New Zealand filly,” Schick commented.
“Her brother, Weona Smartone, was pretty handy in Australia.
“There should be some interest in her.”
Circus Maximus hasn’t returned to Europe for the Northern Hemisphere covering season, instead he will remain in New Zealand and enjoy a well-earned rest.
‘It’s good to be back’
Schick can’t recall the last time Windsor Park Stud consigned horses under its own name. He admitted the team is happy to return to the Gold Coast, and there is a great sense of optimism ahead of the first physical sale of the year.
“It’s good to be back selling under our own banner. We have sold there before under our own name, but it’s been many years,” said Schick.
“It’s good to be back selling under our own banner. We have sold there before under our own name, but it’s been many years.” - Rodney Schick
“We’re all keen and looking forward to it.
“We only have a small, boutique draft there, but they are four very nice yearlings.
“It just seemed the right time to do it, we had a nice draft there, we wanted to showcase some of Circus Maximus’ progeny, and there was a direct flight, which always helps.”
Gallery: Windsor Park Stud will present four yearlings at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Windsor Park Stud has enjoyed some good results with yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. In 2021, Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock paid $150,000 for Lot 101 - a Brazen Beau colt from the winning Fastnet Rock mare Bingo Betty. And Simple Bloodstock Services went to $120,000 for Lot 83 - a Charm Spirit (Ire) colt out of the Smart Missile mare Bay Missile. Both yearlings were offered by Kitchwin Hills.
The remaining members of Windsor Park Stud’s draft this year are Lots 466 and 841. The former is a Savabeel colt from Bayrock (Fastnet Rock), making him a brother to the Listed victress Hindaam (NZ). Bayrock is a sister to the stakes winners Merchant Navy, Jolie Bay and Setanta. Lot 841 is a colt by Contributer (Ire) out of the winning Falkirk (NZ) mare Lady Guinness (NZ).
