Cover image courtesy of White Robe Lodge
South Island’s premier stallion farm, White Robe Lodge, will stand two stallions in 2026. Alflaila (GB) stands his second season while Ancient Spirit (Ger) is proving to be one to watch. Both will stand for NZ$7000 plus GST.
Dark Angel’s Alflaila was very popular
Alflaila (GB) came to White Robe Lodge in 2025 as a well-credential racehorse. A winner at two, he trained on to be a dual Group 3 winner at three. At four and five he won the G2 York Stakes in successive seasons, also running fourth in the G1 Royal Ascot Prince of Wales's Stakes.
“We were overwhelmed by the first-year support of Alflaila. It’s the biggest book we've had for a stallion in 15 years,” White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart said.
Alflaila (GB) | Standing at White Robe Lodge
Alflaila covered 110 mares in his first season according to the New Zealand Stud Book.
“Breeders from all around the country have sent mares and lot of those mares have been booked in again this year. We encourage anyone who's in the area to come out and have a look at him as he’s a stunning type and if the foals look anything like he does, then breeders won’t be disappointed.”
Alflaila is a son of Champion GB/Ire Sire Dark Angel (Ire) whose Group 1 winning son Charyn (Ire) will shuttle to Cambridge Stud in 2026. Harry Angel (Ire) is another son of Dark Angel who is making his mark in Australia with the likes of Tom Kitten, Private Harry, War Machine (NZ), and exciting Angel Capital.
Jack Stewart | Image courtesy of LoveracingNZ
“Obviously Alflaila stands at a different price point (to Charyn), and at White Robe Lodge we are very cognisant of the cost of breeding and raising a horse,” he said.
“Obviously Alflaila stands at a different price point (to Charyn), and at White Robe Lodge we are very cognisant of the cost of breeding and raising a horse.” - Jack Stewart
“It’s important we play our part to keep breeders engaged and give them every opportunity to succeed, so in addition to realistic service fees, we also offer $10 a day grazing fees for anyone who supports our stallions with a mare.”
Alflaila is out of stakes placed Oasis Dream (GB) mare Adhwaa (GB) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Shaqira (GB) (Redoute’s Choice), so breeders can see that the family has crossed well with the Danehill (USA) line already.
Alflaila | Standing at White Robe Lodge
Patience the key for Ancient Spirit
The first crop of Group 2 winner Ancient Spirit (Ger) are now 3-year-olds and from a first crop of 47 foals, he’s sired Listed Otago Breeders’ Stakes victrix Bobby McGee (NZ) and stakes placed Golden Spirit (NZ). Fly Zenno (NZ) ran fourth in the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic this season behind dual Oaks winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
“We always thought they'd be horses that would get better with time, and they’re certainly showing a bit now,” Stewart said.
“We always thought they'd be horses that would get better with time, and they’re certainly showing a bit now.” - Jack Stewart
“The word from the trainers is positive that they will continue to progress into strong staying types. We've got plenty of them here ourselves, both on the farm and in the racing stable (Brian and Shane Anderton). He’s on the right trajectory and there is plenty of interest in them as trade horses to Australia, given their ability to get out over a bit of ground.”
Ancient Spirit | Standing at White Robe Lodge
The son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) was a dual Group 2 winner at three in Germany, training on to win two Listed races in Ireland at five. He covered his biggest book of 60 mares in 2024.
White Robe Lodge’s proven Group 1 sire Ghibellines died in December 2025, and both Alflaila and Ancient Spirit look to be solid options for the future of the farm.
