Almanzor making fine Group One impression

[Wandering Eyes]

Almanzor has already proved a stallion force to be reckoned with in feature age group events with his first two crops excelling at the elite level.

Cambridge Stud has been thrilled with the start the Group One-winning son of Wootton Bassett has made to his career and he will stand at an unchanged fee of $50,000 +GST in 2023.

His fellow multiple European Group One winner Hello Youmzain will also again be offered at $30,000 +GST while top-flight domestic winners Sword Of State and Embellish will stand at $15,000  GST and $5000 +GST, respectively.

“We are very proud of the calibre of horse we are offering to New Zealand breeders again this season. All our stallions are winners at the highest level by truly world class sires,” Cambridge Stud Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre said.

“We’re delighted with the start Almanzor has made with his first runners. To have sired six Group One performers, five of those in Classic races, is a very notable achievement so early in his career.”

Manzoice winning the 2022 Gr.1 VRC Derby.
Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

Manzoice has led the charge with his victory in the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) while Virtuous Circle was second in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Andalus was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

Almanzor’s daughters have also been to the fore with Mehzebeen second in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Blue Solitaire placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

“It has also been very pleasing to see Almanzor’s affinity with mares carrying Danehill. We felt his outcross pedigree would be a real asset and that is proving to be the case,” Plumptre said.

“He’s running at 10 percent stakes winner to runners with Danehill-line mares, including Manzoice and recent Gr.3 winner Cheval D’Or.

“Like Almanzor, Hello Youmzain brings exceptional credentials with him from Europe and has been very well supported in his first two seasons in New Zealand.

“His sire Kodiac is a record-breaking sire of two-year-olds and already has two Group One producing sons at stud.

“Hello Youmzain is his best performed son and has produced a great line-up of foals that we are very confident will find favour at the yearling sales next year.”

The stud believes young associate stallion Sword Of State’s race record and pedigree makes him another perfect fit.

“Sword Of State is tailor made for the Australasian market, he’s a Champion Two-Year-Old with great balance, strength and athleticism,” Plumptre said.

“Any son of Snitzel is great currency and Sword of State is bred on the magic Encosta De Lago cross.

“We think Sword of State is well placed to continue Snitzel’s growing legacy as a sire of sires.”

Savabeel’s son Embellish has sired two-year-old black-type performers Luberon and Talisker from limited representation with the best yet to come, according to Plumptre.

“From a handful of runners, Embellish has made a very encouraging start. He has two stakes performers and several winners that look as though they will improve as three-year-olds.

“When you consider Embellish himself didn’t win until he was three the future looks bright, particularly as he has big numbers coming through and will have plenty of representation on the racecourse.”

All stallion fees are payable on the birth of a live foal.

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