Stallion doing a ripper job

3 min read

Written by Paul Vettise

Rip Van Winkle (IRE) became a permanent New Zealand resident a couple of years ago and Windsor Park Stud has never had any reason to question their decision to secure his long-term future.

The three-time Group 1 winning son of the hugely influential Galileo (IRE) began his serving duties at the Cambridge farm on a shuttle basis and when the opportunity arose to purchase him from Coolmore it was immediately taken.

Rip Van Winkle

“Kevin Hickman (of Valachi Downs) came in for 25 per cent and we’ve got the rest,” Windsor Park’s Rodney Schick said.

“The stallion’s doing a fantastic job.” – Rodney Schick.

“The stallion’s doing a fantastic job. He’s strong with his fillies with seven per cent of stakes winners to runners and his colts and geldings are also doing a great job.”

That was highlighted during the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton where his sons Te Akau Shark (NZ) and Bizzwinkle (NZ) produced impressive performances to win the G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile and the G3 New Zealand Cup respectively.

“To have a horse of Te Akau Shark’s quality is really exciting and he’ll foot it anywhere he goes,” Schick said.

“There’s the old saying that milers make sires and Rip Van Winkle had a Timeform rating of 134, he was unbelievable.”

Three-time Group 1 winner

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Rip Van Winkle won the G1 Ascot Queen Elizabeth II S., and the G1 Sussex S., as a 3-year-old and trained on the following season to claim the G1 York International S.

“He’s certainly leaving versatile horses and they get better with age,” Schick said. “To have a two-mile winner in Bizzwinkle is fantastic and he was bred by John and Lucy Scoular, who are long-time clients of ours.

“In Australia, Kingsguard is doing a good job for us, he’s a really nice horse.”

Kingsguard pictured as a yearling

The John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes-trained Kingsguard (NZ) won the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup earlier this year and also finished runner-up in the G2 Shannon S.

“Rip Van Winkle is working his way up the sires’ table.” - Rodney Schick.

“Rip Van Winkle is working his way up the sires’ table. It takes a while for these young stallions to do that,” Schick said.

“He’ll serve about 70 mares this year, we’d like a few more, and the two Group winners at Riccarton to give him more momentum.

“We’ve got a really nice Rip Van Winkle colt out of Dancing Jess to sell at the Ready to Run Sale as well.”

Well-bred colt

To be offered as Lot 415, the 2-year-old’s dam won the G3 Taranaki Breeders’ S., and the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup.

Lot 415 - Rip Van Winkle x Dancing Jess colt

He is from the family of the G1 New Zealand S., winner Magnet Bay (NZ) (Gold And Ivory (USA) and the G2 Desert Gold S., winner Morning Rise (NZ) (Straight Strike (USA).

Sire of the G1 Phoenix S., winner Dick Whittington (IRE), Rip Van Winkle has so far produced 11 individual stakes winners in Australasia.