Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Posted November 18 Group One performer Wild Night has been retired from racing. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Full circle moment for retiring Wild Nighthttps://bitofayarn.com LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 18 November 2025 It will be a full circle moment for Group One performer Wild Night when he returns to Windsor Park Stud following his retirement from racing this week. Bred by the Cambridge farm, the six-year-old gelding is by their Group One-producing sire Vanbrugh and out of Supreme, who is also the dam of Group Two winner Play That Song.https://bitofayarn.com Wild Night was offered through Windsor Park Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $50,000. He proved to be an astute buy, winning five consecutive races as a three-year-old, including the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), before finishing runner-up to Prowess in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and third behind subsequent New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). He battled with soundness issues in subsequent years but added a further three wins to his tally before the decision was made to call time on his racing career following his seventh placed run in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m). “He was a really good horse for his connections,” said Mark Walker, who trained Wild Night in partnership with Sam Bergeron.https://bitofayarn.com “He had a brilliant three-year-old season but had a few soundness issues creep in when he was a four-year-old. “He was quite lightly-raced that season and came back at five to kick off with consecutive wins and had an unlucky run in the Cranbourne Cup (Listed, 1600m) in Melbourne. “He was a lovely horse to have in the stables and if it wasn’t for his soundness issues I’m sure he would have ended up a Group One horse.https://bitofayarn.com “He’ll live out a fulfilled life as a pleasure horse and certainly won’t be forgotten by everyone that had something to do with him.” Wild Night retires to Windsor Park Stud the winner of eight of his 23 starts, with earnings north of $550,000. 1
Group One performer Wild Night has been retired from racing. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Full circle moment for retiring Wild Nighthttps://bitofayarn.com LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 18 November 2025 It will be a full circle moment for Group One performer Wild Night when he returns to Windsor Park Stud following his retirement from racing this week. Bred by the Cambridge farm, the six-year-old gelding is by their Group One-producing sire Vanbrugh and out of Supreme, who is also the dam of Group Two winner Play That Song.https://bitofayarn.com Wild Night was offered through Windsor Park Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $50,000. He proved to be an astute buy, winning five consecutive races as a three-year-old, including the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), before finishing runner-up to Prowess in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and third behind subsequent New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). He battled with soundness issues in subsequent years but added a further three wins to his tally before the decision was made to call time on his racing career following his seventh placed run in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m). “He was a really good horse for his connections,” said Mark Walker, who trained Wild Night in partnership with Sam Bergeron.https://bitofayarn.com “He had a brilliant three-year-old season but had a few soundness issues creep in when he was a four-year-old. “He was quite lightly-raced that season and came back at five to kick off with consecutive wins and had an unlucky run in the Cranbourne Cup (Listed, 1600m) in Melbourne. “He was a lovely horse to have in the stables and if it wasn’t for his soundness issues I’m sure he would have ended up a Group One horse.https://bitofayarn.com “He’ll live out a fulfilled life as a pleasure horse and certainly won’t be forgotten by everyone that had something to do with him.” Wild Night retires to Windsor Park Stud the winner of eight of his 23 starts, with earnings north of $550,000.
Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Author Posted November 18 Wild Night - one of those cheap Te Akau purchases that return a lot of stakes, Grp wins and a lot of fun for their owners. Well done @nomates aka Bob. 1
hesi Posted November 18 Posted November 18 One of the star 3 year-olds from that vintage 22/23 season, that never really went on with it for whatever reason
Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Author Posted November 18 8 minutes ago, hesi said: One of the star 3 year-olds from that vintage 22/23 season, that never really went on with it for whatever reason Soundness issues. Not uncommon amongst the top horses.
hesi Posted November 18 Posted November 18 Interestingly the horse that has gone on and done the most from that 22/23 season, is Pier the 2000 Guineas winner
Huey Posted November 18 Posted November 18 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Wild Night - one of those cheap Te Akau purchases that return a lot of stakes, Grp wins and a lot of fun for their owners. Well done @nomates aka Bob. You TA owners and fan boys have a very interesting view of what is cheap $50k yearling. 1
Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Author Posted November 18 9 minutes ago, Huey said: You TA owners and fan boys have a very interesting view of what is cheap $50k yearling. You can't buy them at the $2 shop @Huey . Nor at the rest home bingo night.
Huey Posted November 18 Posted November 18 29 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: You can't buy them at the $2 shop @Huey . Nor at the rest home bingo night. Seen plenty of good ones bought for a lot less.
Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Author Posted November 18 18 minutes ago, Huey said: Seen plenty of good ones bought for a lot less. Name 5.
Huey Posted November 18 Posted November 18 15 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Name 5. Daryl's Joy DanzdanzDance King Keitel Patrick Erin Shadows Cast There are plenty of them.
Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Author Posted November 18 9 minutes ago, Huey said: King Keitel Owned by Westbury Stud.
Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Author Posted November 18 10 minutes ago, Huey said: Daryl's Joy Foaled in 1966!!! Sold for $1,100 as a yealing. Which today is the equivalent of over $55,000. Wild Night was cheaper!!! 1
Huey Posted November 18 Posted November 18 4 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Owned by Westbury Stud. Yes I think so
Huey Posted November 18 Posted November 18 1 minute ago, Chief Stipe said: Foaled in 1966!!! Sold for $1,100 as a yealing. Which today is the equivalent of over $55,000. Wild Night was cheaper!!! What were yearling prices back then?
Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Author Posted November 18 1 minute ago, Huey said: What were yearling prices back then? Darryl's Joy was sold as a yealing for $1,100. I know it is a difficult concept for you to grasp but $1,100 then is worth $55,000+ today.
Huey Posted November 18 Posted November 18 10 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Darryl's Joy was sold as a yealing for $1,100. I know it is a difficult concept for you to grasp but $1,100 then is worth $55,000+ today. Prove it
Freda Posted November 18 Posted November 18 (edited) Bonecrusher, Rough Habit...Pivotal Ten.. Edited November 18 by Freda 4
Shad Posted November 18 Posted November 18 Not sure but thought kiwi may have been reasonable purchase
Freda Posted November 18 Posted November 18 Just now, Shad said: Not sure but thought kiwi may have been reasonable purchase Think so, yes.
Freda Posted November 18 Posted November 18 Just now, Freda said: Think so, yes. $1000 comes to mind.
hesi Posted November 18 Posted November 18 (edited) 44 minutes ago, Freda said: According to Chatgpt that is correct He was bought at a Wanganui Hunt Club mixed sale, for $1000 where they mostly sold hacks and farm horses. Snow Lupton always joked he “wasn’t sure if he’d bought a racehorse or a ride-on.” Edited November 18 by hesi
hesi Posted November 18 Posted November 18 Part time breeders can still put a good horse together if they do their research. The Crofskey's did so with Leica Lucy, for the cost of a service fee to Derryn at $5K 2
Chief Stipe Posted November 18 Author Posted November 18 1 hour ago, hesi said: Not quite CS Depends I used pounds as the currency didnt change until July 1967. Not as old as @Huey to remember what time of year the sales were held.
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