Cambridge Stud looks ahead after horror year
After what has been a difficult 12 months, to put it mildly, Cambridge Stud is now focused on the future with the announcement of its stallion fees for 2020.
Cambridge Stud announced yesterday that French shuttle stallion Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) would again stand for NZ$30,000 (plus GST), placing him among the top three most valuable stallions in New Zealand this season.
Almanzor, a 3YO European Champion in 2016, who won eight of his 11 starts including the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m), the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) and its English equivalent, the Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f), is set to have his first European yearlings go through the sales ring later this year.
“Almanzor attracted a high quality group of mares for his first book in New Zealand in 2018, including 50 stakes winners and stakes producers,” Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday. “He was well received in both hemispheres covering full books of 140 and 160 mares in New Zealand in his first two seasons. The feedback from breeders on his foals is very strong and we are particularly pleased that our shareholders seem delighted with his stock.
“In his third season in France, European breeders took note of his exceptional foal sales at Tattersalls and Arqana and he is booked out at 140 mares again.
“He is a great physical specimen and has thrown a very consistent line of foals – good bone, correct with great tops. His sire Wootton Bassett has also been instrumental in Almanzor’s popularity with his fee in France rising from €6,000 in 2018 to €40,000 in 2020.”
Joining Almanzor on the roster is New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Embellish (Savabeel), who served his first season at stud last year. He is the only Group 1-winning son of five-time New Zealand Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel) at stud and will stand for a fee of $4,000 (plus GST).
“Embellish’s CV reads well from start to finish,” Plumptre said. “A NZ$775,000 yearling, a blue chip New Zealand pedigree containing the classic Zabeel/O’Reilly cross, a Group 1 and Classic-winning three-year-old and lightly raced.
“Once again, like his fellow sire Almanzor, Embellish is a great physical specimen combining the best of his sire Savabeel and maternal grandsire O’Reilly.
“As the only Group 1-winning son of Savabeel standing at stud, Embellish represents amazing value coming as he does from New Zealand’s prepotent sire line and with a magnificent pedigree. He bred 138 mares last season and Cambridge Stud will again be strong supporters in 2020.”
Cambridge Stud has long been one of New Zealand’s leading nurseries. Under the stewardship of Sir Patrick Hogan, the farm became the home of champion stallions Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor) and Zabeel (Sir Tristram) and produced a plethora of champions.
Sold by Hogan in late 2017 to Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Cambridge Stud looked poised to enter an exciting new chapter with a five-strong roster last season that included flagship stallion Tavistock (Montjeu), exciting addition Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) and reliable mainstay Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice).
However, Roaring Lion suffered a colic attack soon after his arrival in New Zealand in July and after a second attack weeks later, he was euthanised.
In December, Cambridge Stud lost both Burgundy, who contracted acute laminitis in his front feet, and Tavistock, who suffered an injury in a freak paddock accident.
While Plumptre acknowledges it has been a difficult year for the operation, he is also optimistic for what the future holds, praising the Lindsays for their investment into the facilities at Cambridge Stud.
“We are in an industry that is capable of delivering both amazing highs and devastating lows, everyone involved with thoroughbreds would agree with that,” Plumptre said. “At Cambridge, while the loss of those horses was keenly felt, we are firmly focused on next year.
“Brendan and Jo Lindsay have rebuilt the infrastructure at Cambridge and given us amazing facilities to work with. That encouragement and support has been a fantastic boost for the Cambridge Stud staff.”
Covid-19 has thrown in another curveball, creating an economic climate in which pricing stallions is difficult. While it is affecting farms on both sides of the Tasman, it is also clear that both the racing and breeding industries in New Zealand have been harder hit by the downturn.
“New Zealand is obviously in a different space to Australia with the breeding industry here declining, unlike Australia where it is increasing,” Plumptre said. “However, pricing stallions in the current climate is part of the equation of evaluating the future and what it might hold. We are looking forward to what lies ahead, rather than what has happened in the past. In dealing with our clients and supporters, our fees for Almanzor and Embellish are pitched at what we believe is the right level for them to get a solid return.”
Cambridge Stud roster 2020
Almanzor $30,000
Embellish $4,000