Promising start for Winsdor Park's Charm Spirit
Forward thinking is now bringing tangible results for Windsor Park Stud on both sides of the racing world. The Cambridge nursery has assembled a stallion roster featuring a mix of the proven and the promising and one that breeders have really warmed to.
“Following Thorn Park’s death we went out and invested quite heavily in stallions and we’re starting to see the fruits of that now,” co-owner and manager Rodney Schick said. “I think we’ve set ourselves up really well for the future, it’s exciting times.”
“I think we’ve set ourselves up really well for the future, it’s exciting times.”- Rodney Schick.
The farm’s stallion firepower was on display on Sunday as part of the Waikato stud tour with Charm Spirit (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {IRE}), Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor {IRE}), Rageese (Street Cry {IRE}), Rip Van Winkle (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), Shamexpress (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Vanbrugh (Encosta de Lago) shown to breeders.
Vanburgh
“Charm Spirit is doing a fantastic job in Europe with 13 individual winners,” Schick said. “They are showing a lot of precocity and, naturally enough, there’s a lot of interest in him here.”
Charm Spirit won six of his nine starts, including top-flight successes in the Ascot Queen Elizabeth II S., the Prix du Moulin and the Prix Jean Prat. “There’s been really great feedback down here from trainers and Chris Waller, as an example, has got five or six of them and they are showing plenty of natural ability.
“Shamexpress is going really well and we’ve got the first foals of Turn Me Loose, Rageese and Vanbrugh and so far we’re very happy.” It’s also exciting times with the first crop of the multiple Group 1 winner Mongolian Khan now yearlings while Rip Van Winkle continues to make his mark in both Hemispheres.
Full endorsement for Almanzor at Cambridge
Meanwhile at Cambridge Stud, stallion newcomer Almanzor (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has received the ultimate seal of approval. “Sir Patrick said that if he was still here he would have loved to have him,” manager Marcus Corban said. “The horse looks magnificent. He’s let down beautifully and he’s very popular.”
“The horse looks magnificent. He’s let down beautifully and he’s very popular.” – Marcus Corban.
The three-time Group 1 winner of the Prix du Jockey Club, the Champion S., and the Irish Champion S., he was the headline horse new stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay secured to open a new chapter in the farm’s history.
Visitors at the Cambridge Stud parade
“He’s everything that Brendan and Jo were hoping for and from the Iffraaj line he’ll do well with all the Danzig mares, Danehill and Fastnet Rock. He’s the complete outcross.”
Cambridge Stud is also the new home for Highly Recommended (Fastnet Rock), who has relocated from the South Island, Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute's Choiuce) and the Group 1 producer Tavistock (NZ) (Montjeu {IRE}. Sunday’s tour opened at Highview Stud to view Bullbars (Elusive Quality {USA}), Sweet Orange (USA) (War Front {USA}) and Wrote (IRE) (High Chaparral {USA}) and also took in Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), Roc de Cambes (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}) and Niagara (Encosta de Lago) at The Oaks Stud.
