European quality headlines Windsor Park roster for 2026

Cover image courtesy of Windsor Park Stud

Windsor Park Stud have announced their fees for 2026 with exciting European gallopers Auguste Rodin (Ire), Paddington (GB), and Circus Maximus (Ire) to headline. In conjunction with Mapperley Stud, Group 1 winner Savaglee (NZ) will stand his first season.

All up, the farm will stand six stallions with two others in partnership with Mapperley Stud.

Table: Windsor Park Stud 2026 stallion fee

Deep Impact’s quality to the fore

Six-time Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin returns for his second season, having covered 160 mares in his first season in 2025. He remains unchanged at NZ$30,000 plus GST.

“He served an outstanding book of mares in his first season with us. He was world-class on the track, and he is world-class in temperament. We have received excellent reports on his foals in the Northern Hemisphere, with his progeny possessing the quality, strength, and athleticism you would expect from such an outstanding individual,” said Windsor Park Stud’s Rodney Schick.

A Group 1 winner at two over a mile, he added four Group 1 wins at three including both the Epsom and Irish Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Back at four, he added the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

From the final crop of Deep Impact (Jpn), he’s from an elite family being out of triple Group 1 winner Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full sister to seven-time Group 1 winner Magical (Ire), and both are out of triple Group 1 winner Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).

Deep Impact, who won 11 Champion Sire titles in Japan, is growing a reputation as a sire of sires thanks to Kizuna (Jpn) who has 52 stakes winners, and more locally with brilliant G1 Doncaster Handicap winning filly Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) who is one of 19 stakes winners for her sire. Satono Aladdin (Jpn) continues to raise the bar with 14 stakes winners.

Windsor Stud stand fellow Deep Impact son Profondo, winner of the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at his third start, and he is priced at NZ$17,500 plus GST for his fourth season. He covered 153 mares in 2025.

His first crop sold well as yearlings, averaging NZ$81,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale with a top price of NZ$425,000 across 41 yearlings sold. He had a further five yearlings head to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where they averaged $132,000.

“Profondo has progeny in many of the leading stables across Australasia. He now looks set to build on his impressive debut sales season as the industry looks ahead to his first 2-year-olds appearing in the spring,” said Schick.

Shamexpress gets another rise

Being the sire of the world’s fastest horse, Ka Ying Rising (NZ), has seen Shamexpress (NZ) rise in fee over the last couple of years. Ka Ying Rising holds the Hong Kong record at 20 wins in succession, although this looks likely to increase again when he returns from a well-earned spell to have another crack at the G1 The Everest in the spring.

Shamexpress has proved he’s not a one-hit wonder with 15 other stakes winners including dual Group 1 winner Coventina Bay (NZ), and this season’s Group 1-placed sprinter Sterling Express (NZ) and group winner The Scunner (NZ).

He will stand at NZ$25,000 plus GST for 2026, having served 98 mares in 2024 and 110 in 2025.

Paddington returns for his third season

Ballydoyle’s brilliant miler Paddington returns for his third season at a fee of NZ$30,000 plus GST. A winner at two, Paddington was crowned Champion 3YO Miler in GB & Ireland in 2023 thanks for victories in the G1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas, G1 Sussex Stakes and G1 St James's Palace Stakes. He stretched to 2000 metres to add the G1 Eclipse Stakes.

“We are thrilled with Paddington’s weanlings. He is leaving size, strong-bodied horses with deep girths and quality heads. With his profile and type, we expect his progeny will be keenly sought after throughout Australasia’s leading yearling sales,” Schick said.

With 73 live foals in his first crop, Paddington was again popular in 2025 covering 105 mares. Like St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) who has started his stud career so well, Paddington is a son of Siyouni (Fr). He is out of a Listed winning Montjeu (Ire) mare, and Windsor Park Stud had much success when shuttling Montjeu on a similar partnership with Coolmore Stud.

Savaglee to begin his career

One of many Group 1 winners by his Champion Sire Savabeel, G1 NZ 2000 Guineas victor Savaglee (NZ) begins his stud career in 2026 in partnership with Mapperley Stud. He is fully booked at an initial fee of NZ$17,500 plus GST.

He further proved his class when a close second in the G1 Australian Guineas. Savabeel’s son Cool Aza Beel (NZ) has had a brilliant start to his stud career with G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Cool Archie.

Derby winner for Circus Maximus

Circus Maximus, a dual Group 1-winning miler at three who added another Group 1 at four, sired this year’s G1 New Zealand Derby victor Road To Paris (NZ) with his first crop of 3-year-olds. Not many stallions can get a Classic winner in their first crop. Consequently, Circus Maximus will stand for NZ$20,000 plus GST in his sixth season.

With two other stakes winners from his first crop, Circus Maximus also has two potential runners in Group 1 company for the Queensland Carnival. G1 Australasian Oaks-placed Paltrow Miss (NZ) heads to the G1 Queensland Oaks, while Engine Of War (NZ) is being aimed at the G1 Queensland Derby.

He covered 58 mares in 2025 at a fee of NZ$17,500 plus GST but the emergence of a Derby winner since then will likely see his popularity rise again.

Proven sires to complete the roster

Windsor Park Stud’s Vanbrugh and Mapperley Stud’s Armory (Ire) complete the joint roster. Armory heads into his fourth season and will stand for NZ$10,000 plus GST. His first crop are 2-year-olds and he’s been represented by juvenile winner Silhouette (NZ). He covered 77 mares in his fourth season in 2025.

The son of Galileo (Ire) was precocious enough to win the G2 Curragh Futurity Stakes at two, but he improved at three and four to add two more group wins and three Group 1 placings including in the G1 Cox Plate.

G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Vanbrugh, a son of Encosta De Lago, will stand for NZ$6000 plus GST in 2026. Thanks to the deeds of dual Group 1 winner Mustang Valley, Vanbrugh’s largest crop are now 2-year-olds.

This season, his 3-year-old filly Single Red (NZ) has won three of her six starts and placed in the G1 New Zealand Oaks. She is being aimed at the G1 Queensland Oaks.