Written by Renee Geelen
Cover image courtesy of Windsor Park Stud
On Thursday, New Zealand’s Windsor Park Stud announced their stallion line up for 2024 with six options for breeders. With a graduate roll boasting 50 Group 1 winners, Windsor Park Stud’s ability to find high quality commercial stallions is led by eight-time NZ Champion Sire Volksraad (GB), Champion NZ Sire Thorn Park, and Champion NZ Sire Star Way (GB).
Paddington continues partnership
When Paddington was announced back in March, the decision continued a fruitful partnership between Windsor Park Stud and Coolmore Stud; one that includes High Chaparral (Ire) who sired Group 1 winner and sire So You Think (NZ), and Montjeu (Ire) who sired Tavistock (NZ) while at Windsor Park.
Bred in Ireland by Dayton Investments, Paddington was purchased by Coolmore for €420,000 (AU$693,100) at Arqana, and he showed good ability when winning at his second start as a 2-year-old. Back at three, he won six races in succession including the G1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas, G1 St James’s Palace S., G1 Eclipse S., and G1 Sussex S. After a third in the G1 York International S., Paddington was flat in his final start of the season and it was discovered he had an infection which led to his retirement.
Paddington (GB) (when racing) will stand for NZ$35,000 plus GST in 2024 | Standing at Windsor Park Stud, NZ
“We had a launch day for him here today and are confident that he is going to attract a good book of mares as he has done in the Northern Hemisphere. He is a history-making horse, exceptional from the beginning being a top-drawer yearling and he was a champion miler by an exceptional stallion,” Rodney Schick told TTR AusNZ back in March.
Outstanding pedigree
Paddington’s superior yearling price reflected his pedigree, being a son of Siyouni (Fr) who is a dual Champion Sire in France with 75 stakes winners globally. Siyouni has sired four Australian stakes winners including the G1 Northerly S. winner Amelia's Jewel, while five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) stands at Coolmore Stud.
Siyouni is a relatively young stallion, having retired in 2011, and his sons at stud are at the beginning stages of their careers.
Sire of Paddington (GB), Siyouni (Fr) | Standing at Haras de Bonneval, France
Paddington’s dam, Listed Prix Belle du Nuit winner Modern Eagle (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}) has also produce stakes-placed juvenile winner Masterpiece (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Modern Eagle is a daughter of Group 1-placed winner Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre {GB}) who also produced Listed winner Mighty Blue (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}).
His third dam is G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Moonlight Dance (USA) (Alysheba {USA}), while fourth dam is Madelia (Fr) (Caro {Ire}), winner of all her four starts including three at Group 1-level.
Windsor Park said in their press release, “(Paddington) was an instant hit with breeders … (being) quickly oversubscribed with Australasian support following the recent announcement he was to shuttle to Windsor Park for stud duties.”
Profondo’s popularity to continue
G1 Spring Champion S. winner Profondo was very popular in his first season covering 177 mares in 2023, and he will stand his second season at NZ$17,500 plus GST.
A $1.9 million yearling, Profondo quickly returned the faith in him with a debut win as an early spring 3-year-old, followed by a second in the G3 Gloaming S, before winning the G1 Spring Champion S. at only his third start.
Back in the autumn, he ran fourth to Champion racehorse Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) in the G1 Rosehill Guineas. At four, he ran into Anamoe again in the G1 Winx S.
Profondo will stand for NZ$17,500 plus GST in 2024 | Standing at Windsor Park Stud, NZ
A son of eleven-time Champion Sire in Japan Deep Impact (Jpn), Profondo represents an insatiable desire among the commercial breeders of the world to tap into Japan’s tough bloodstock, as highlighted by young Deep Impact's son Saxon Warrior (Jpn) who already has 10 stakes winners from his first few crops.
Profondo is out of G3 Widden S. winner Honesty Prevails (Redoute’s Choice) from the family of AP Indy (USA).
“Profondo was fully booked in his first season at stud in 2023 and is again oversubscribed at an unchanged fee.”
Strong sales for Circus Maximus first crop
Triple Group 1 winner Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) returns for his fourth season at a fee of NZ$17,500 plus GST in 2024. A winner at two, who went on to win two Group 1 races at three, and another at four, Circus Maximus was crowned Champion 3-Year-Old Miler in France.
“These performances together with his outstanding pedigree have made him an extremely popular choice with breeders with the result that his first crop yearlings sold to AU$260,000 and they will hit the racetracks later this year as 2-year-olds.”
Circus Maximus (Ire) will stand for NZ$17,500 plus GST in 2024 | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
By Champion Sire Galileo (Ire), whose Frankel (GB) is flying as a stallion with 138 stakes winners, Circus Maximus is the only foal of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Duntle (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Turn Me Loose continues successful career path
Triple Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) has seven stakes winners led by G1 Sistema S. winner She’s Licketysplit, who went on at three to win the G2 Edward Manifold S.
“Turn Me Loose is the sire of Australian stakes winners (She’s) Licketysplit, Prix De Turn and Ancient Girl while his 2023 3-year-old Group winners include Wessex and Loosespender.”
Turn Me Loose (NZ) will stand for NZ$12,000 plus GST in 2024 | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
Turn Me Loose won the G1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas at three, then travelled to Austalia to win the G1 Emirates S. and G1 Futurity S. at four.
His yearlings sold up to NZ$230,000 at Karaka this year, and his sire Iffraaj (GB) is the sire of exciting stallion Wootton Bassett (GB). He will stand in 2024 for NZ$12,000 plus GST.
Great value for Vanbrugh
Vanbrugh is a rags-to-riches story siring dual Group 1 winner Mustang Valley (NZ) from his small first-crop of only 36 foals, and continuing this with Wild Night (NZ) and Sheez Dominant (NZ) from his second crop.
“With limited representation to date, Encosta De Lago’s Group 1-winning son Vanbrugh has fashioned an impressive stakes winner to runner strike rate of 9 per cent including dual Group 1 winner Mustang Valley and outstanding 3-year-old Wild Night,” said Windsor Park Stud’s press release.
Vanbrugh will stand for NZ$8000 plus GST in 2024 | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
A winner at two, Vanbrugh won the G1 Spring Champion S. at three and the G3 Coongy Handicap at four in a career where he won five of his 21 starts.
By Encosta De Lago, Vanbrugh is out of a winning half-sister to four stakes winners led by G2 Tea Rose S. winner Prisoner Of Love (Canny Lad). He will stand in 2024 for NZ$8000 plus GST.
Shamexpress good value
Leading first season sire in 2017/18, Shamexpress (NZ) has fashioned a solid stud career with 10 stakes winners led by Group 1 winner Coventina Bay (NZ). Recent Australian Group winning 3-year-old Grinzinger Belle (NZ) headlines his current small crop of 3-year-olds which includes 10 winners from 16 runners.
Shamexpress (NZ) will stand for NZ$8000 plus GST in 2024 | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
A son of Champion Sire O’Reilly (NZ), Shamexpress won the G1 Newmarket H. in Australia as a 3-year-old.
“A stallion who continually produces classy racehorses, the past season has proved no exception for Shamexpress. He has any amount of exciting young gallopers making their way through the ranks and none more so than Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising.”
Shamexpress will stand for NZ$8000 plus GST.
