In a remarkable display of longevity and success, Windsor Park Stud have bred, raised or sold over fifty Gr1 winners in their forty year history. Yes, that’s more than one a year and includes Champion racehorses like Might and Power, Aerovelocity, and So You Think. This season, their graduates include 2022 Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Callsign Mav (four Gr1 wins to date) and homebred and owned 2022 Gr1 Livamol Classic winner Mustang Valley (Vanbrugh).
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Last year’s draft, now two year-olds, already includes city winner Trobriand who is unbeaten in two starts so far, while the current three year-olds from their draft include leading colt and Gr2 winner Wild Night (Vanbrugh), Gr3 winner Mr Maestro, Karaka 2YO Million winner Dynastic, Listed winner Pacific Dragon (Charm Spirit), and stakes placed winner Wessex (Turn Me Loose).
Windsor Park Stud’s continued success comes from their fantastic Waikato land (five farms and over 1500 acres) and their strong ability to select stallions. Having stood stallions like Star Way, Kaapstad, multiple Champion Sire Volksraad, internationally successful stallions Tale Of The Cat, Montjeu, High Chaparral, Mastercraftsman as well as Thorn Park, their current line up includes second season shuttle sire Circus Maximus and successful young sires Shamexpress, Turn Me Loose and Vanbrugh. Windsor Park will present a draft of thirty yearlings in Book One and another seventeen in Book Two.
“I think horses have a better chance to reach their genetic potential in New Zealand, more so than any other country in the world that I’ve travelled to,” commented Windsor Park Stud co-owner Rodney Schick. “It’s not just about our climate and land. I also believe we’ve got some of the best people to help maximise reaching this potential. I’m proud of our 2023 yearling draft which will again include future racetrack stars.”
Gr1 performed two year-old Rageese (Street Cry) is sire of Lot 343, a half-brother to 2022 Listed Karaka 2YO Million winner Dynastic (Almanzor), out of a winning Volksraad half-sister to Listed winner Lady Le Fay.
Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj) won the Gr1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas at three before heading over to Australia where he was a dual Gr1 winner at four in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington and Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. His oldest crop have just turned four and he’s left five stakes winners already including Gr1 winning 2YO She’s Licketysplit. Windsor Park will present nine of his yearlings in Book One and another three in Book Two.
Lot 39 – half-brother to unbeaten 2YO and 2022 Karaka graduate Trobriand
Lot 109 – half-sister to Group placed city winner of nine races (from 13 starts) Weona Smartone, out of Listed winner Cora Lynn.
Lot 136 – second foal of stakes placed winner Deedee Panache, a half-sister to Gr1 Victoria Derby placed Sully.
Lot 629 – half-brother to Gr3 Lexus Stakes winner Cismontane, out of a half-sister to three Gr1 winners.
Lot 636 – Out of a sister to $1.1 million yearling and debut stakes winning 2YO Godfather.
Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Vanbrugh (Encosta de Lago) has a Gr1 winner and two other stakes winners from just over fifty foals in his first two crops; a staggering rate of stakes winner production, and Windsor Park Stud will offer seven of his yearlings in their 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft, including Lot 704 a half-brother to stakes placed Sunshine Energy, out of winning half-sister to Gr1 Oakleigh Plate winner Dantelah.
Other pedigrees of note in the draft include:
Lot 41 – Pierro colt who is the first foal of Gr2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes winner Aretha.
Lot 59 – full brother to Listed MRC Twilight Glow Stakes winner Hindaam (Savabeel), out of a full sister to Gr1 winner and emerging sire Merchant Navy.
Lot 83 – A filly by Champion sire Lonhro, from the very talented Capucine who is a three-quarter sister to champion racehorse and leading sire So You Think.
Lot 116 – Darci Brahma half-sister to Gr1 winner Mustang Valley.
Lot 472 – First foal by Windsor Park graduate So You Think out of a Kingman mare from a high quality international family.
Lot 620 – Nicconi half-brother to Listed winner Southern Ocean, out of Listed winner Viana.
Lot 795 – Charm Spirit colt who is the first foal of Gr2 Royal Stakes winner Hello It’s Me.
With an enviable record of continuing success, Windsor Park Stud’s draft of yearlings should be on everyone’s must inspect list.