CAMBRIDGE STUD

With four young stallions all hitting their straps, Cambridge Stud’s 2023 offering is full of promise for breeders.

“I think our roster has something for everyone this year. All our horses are impeccably bred Gr1 winners that offer something different whether it be on type, bloodlines, racing aptitude or budget,” said Cambridge Stud’s Scott Calder. Almanzor

A Champion racehorse, Almanzor is now a Champion Sire with seven Gr1 performers from his first crop of three year-olds. Crowned Champion NZ Sire of 2YOs with his first crop in 2021/22, his first crop of Southern Hemisphere horses include Gr1 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice, Gr3 winner Cheval d’Or and Karaka Million 2YO winner Dynastic, while in the Northern Hemisphere, he has sired six Listed winners.

“We are delighted with how quickly Almanzor has made his mark at stud. He has been unlucky not to have even more stakes success given how many of his progeny have gone close in big races.”

by Renée Geelen

As well as Manzoice, Almanzor’s Gr1 horses are Listed winner Dynastic (second in the Gr1 Sistema Stakes), Virtuous Circle (second in the Gr1 Australian Derby), Mehzebeen (second in the Gr1 NZ Oaks), Blue Solitaire (third in the Gr1 NZ One Thousand Guineas), Andalus (second in the Gr1 NZ Derby), and Queen Trezy (third in the Gr1 Prix Saint-Alary).

“The fact he’s already had so many horses competitive at Gr1 level bodes well for the future and I’m sure the results will continue to come as his progeny mature. He has the benefit of big crops coming through and we think he’s poised to establish himself as a major force in the stallion ranks.”

Champion 3YO Colt in Europe, Almanzor was a triple Gr1 winner, winning the Gr1 Prix du Jockey Club, Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes and Gr1 Ascot Champion Stakes. All up, he won eight of his eleven starts, three of those at two, and over £2.2million.

By Champion Sire of 2YOs in France Wootton Bassett, Almanzor is one of 33 stakes winners for his young sire. Wootton Bassett is quickly gaining a reputation as the next big thing in Europe and now shuttles to Australia where he’s been very popular. Almanzor’s dam is an unraced daughter of Listed winner Darkara, and as well as Almanzor, she’s also left three stakes placed winners. This is the family of Champion 3YO Filly in Europe Darjina.

Hello Youmzain

The first yearlings for dual Gr1 winning sprinter Hello Youmzain will feature in the 2024 sales series, and judging by feedback from breeders on his weanlings they look set to be well received.

“Hello Youmzain was very well supported in his first season at stud and covered some of the best broodmares in the country. He’s got so much in common with his grandsire Danehill and I think that really appeals to the market here.”

Back in 1989, a horse named Danehill won the Gr3 Royal Ascot Cork & Orrery Stakes before going on to win the Gr1 Haydock Sprint Cup. Fast forward to 2002 and the Cork & Orrery Stakes had undergone a transformation, thanks in part to high quality winners like Danehill, and was upgraded to the Gr1 Golden Jubilee Stakes. Choisir won it the next year, and the race became a happy hunting ground for Australian sprinters. The Aussies didn’t win in 2020 - Hello Youmzain did – and now Australian buyers will get to purchase yearlings by Hello Youmzain. Perhaps one will go full circle and end up at Royal Ascot in a few years.

As a three year-old, before winning at Royal Ascot at four, Hello Youmzain won another race made famous by his global superstar grandsire Danehill. The Gr1 Haydock Sprint Cup.

Hello Youmzain’s sire Kodiac (Danehill) has 86 stakes winners and Gr1 winners like Champion Stayer in Australia Best Solution, Champion 2YO Filly in Europe Campanelle, Champion 2YO Filly in Europe Tiggy Wiggy, Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Fairyland, and Gr1 winner El Bodegon. Kodiac’s young sire sons are starting to show the same ability at stud with Adaay and Kodi Bear already leaving multiple stakes winners.

Hello Youmzain is out of Spasha, an unraced Shamardal mare who has been a brilliant broodmare, leaving three stakes winners and two stakes placed winners from her six foals to race (all winners). This family has done well when imported to the Southern Hemisphere with members like Gr1 winner Summer Passage, Shania Dane, Scintillation, Northwest Passage, Order of the Sun, and Head of State.

Sword of State

Gr1 winning two year-old Sword of State won four of his five starts at two, with his only ‘miss’ when third to future five-time Gr1 winner Imperatriz at his second start in the Gr2 Eclipse Stakes. First seen winning as a December two year-old, Sword of State finished his juvenile season with a strong win in the Gr1 Diamond Stakes, beating On The Bubbles who won the Gr1 Manawatu Sires Produce at his next start (with future Australian Gr1 winner I Wish I Win in second).

“Sword of State was a dominant Champion 2YO and I still believe we didn’t see his full potential as a three year-old.”

Sword of State won two Gr3 wins in succession in the autumn at three then headed to Australia to prove his form, running second in the Gr3 Gold Coast Guineas to Prince of Boom. Illness ended Sword of State’s career just as he was warming up, and breeders took advantage and he covered 126 mares in his first season. Those foals are about to be born in 2023.

“He has all the right ingredients for commercial breeders and is attractively priced given how in demand sons of Snitzel are across the Tasman.” Sword of State cost $600,000 as a yearling thanks to his good looks and excellent pedigree. A son of Champion Sire Snitzel, whose 135 stakes winners include emerging talented stallions Shamus Award (21 stakes winners), Russian Revolution (8) and young Gr1 winners like Trapeze Artist, Wild Ruler, In the Congo, Invader, and this season’s Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.

Sword of State is from a running colonial family. His dam, In the Vanguard (Encosta de Lago) was a stakes placed two year-old winner, and his second dam is Gr2 Light Fingers Stakes winner Sharp (Danzero).

Embellish

Gr1 winning milers are often the best stallions and Embellish has had an exciting start to his stud career. His first crop of two year-olds hit the track in 2022/23, and from only ten foals to race, he’s already left three stakes horses. For a horse who was a brilliant three year-old himself, this is a very promising start as his first crop head towards their own three year-old season.

“Early signs for Embellish have been very encouraging. He’s already had three stakes horses in addition to Te Akau’s impressive maiden winner What You Wish For. Embellish didn’t really get going until he was a spring three year-old and he has at least four prospects that will have Guineas week in Christchurch circled on the calendar.”

Embellish was a good looking athletic yearling, selling for $775,000, and he showed ability early when running second on debut at two in an educational run. At three, Embellish broke his maiden early in the season when first up, then won again, before winning the Gr1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas at only his fourth start by one and half lengths, then he ran second in the Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

“Given his pedigree it would be no surprise to see Embellish make it as a stallion so I would say watch this space.”

By multiple Champion Sire Savabeel, whose 133 stakes winners include many Gr1 winners led by NZ Horse of the Year Probabeel. Embellish’s full sister is Gr1 winner Diademe, dam of Listed winning two year-old Unition and stakes placed winner Conqueror. His dam is a half-sister to the dam of Champion Sprinter and dual Gr1 winner Sacred Star, while Savabeel’s recent Gr1 winner Savy Yong Blonk is also in this family.

Cambridge Stud 2023 Roster

Almanzor (FR) (Wootton Bassett-Darkova, by Maria’s Mon), NZ$50,000.

Embellish (NZ) (Savabeel-Bling, by O’Reilly), NZ$5,000.

Hello Youmzain (FR) (Kodiac-Spasha, by Shamardal), NZ$30,000.

Sword of State (AUS) (Snitzel-In The Vanguard, by Encosta de Lago), NZ$15,000.