Chief Stipe Posted 3 hours ago Posted 3 hours ago 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. Quote
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 3 hours ago Author Posted 3 hours ago 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. Quote
hesi Posted 1 hour ago Posted 1 hour ago One of the star 3 year-olds from that vintage 22/23 season, that never really went on with it for whatever reason Quote
Chief Stipe Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago 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. Quote
hesi Posted 1 hour ago Posted 1 hour ago Interestingly the horse that has gone on and done the most from that 22/23 season, is Pier the 2000 Guineas winner Quote
Huey Posted 1 hour ago Posted 1 hour ago 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. Quote
Chief Stipe Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago 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. Quote
Huey Posted 55 minutes ago Posted 55 minutes ago 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. Quote
Chief Stipe Posted 37 minutes ago Author Posted 37 minutes ago 18 minutes ago, Huey said: Seen plenty of good ones bought for a lot less. Name 5. Quote
Huey Posted 14 minutes ago Posted 14 minutes ago 15 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Name 5. Daryl's Joy DanzdanzDance King Keitel Patrick Erin Shadows Cast There are plenty of them. Quote
Chief Stipe Posted 4 minutes ago Author Posted 4 minutes ago 9 minutes ago, Huey said: King Keitel Owned by Westbury Stud. Quote
Chief Stipe Posted just now Author Posted just now 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!!! Quote
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