Since its foundation in 1976 by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Cambridge Stud has become world renowned as a breeding ground of champions. Our hallowed turf, in the heart of the Waikato, has produced winners of the biggest races throughout Australasia and been the home to multiple champion stallions. Today the property combines state-of-the-art facilities with the best of local and international bloodlines as we continue to build on the farm’s proud history of success.
Outstanding three-year-old Warwoven prompted elite level celebrations at Cambridge Stud after the colt demolished a top-class field of age group rivals at Rosehill.
Stallion dreams were realised when he credited our resident sire Sword Of State with his first Group 1 winner following his victory romp in the Golden Rose over 1400 metres at Rosehill.
It was a sublime performance that fuelled trainer Bjorn Baker’s desire to chase top targets further afield with his stable star.
"He’s so good-looking and fast, he’s so special and it was an awesome performance,” he said.
“He's a serious horse and we are looking at the Caulfield Guineas, even the Cox Plate.
“His mother was very good at 2000 metres and he relaxed beautifully but one step at a time. It is an amazing game, racing. It is the best game in the world, and I don't say that lightly."
Warwoven was sourced by Baker’s great friend and bloodstock agent Jim Clarke at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was offered by breeder Kia Ora Stud and knocked down for A$380,000.
He is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, who won the G2 Royal Stakes and placed at Group 2 level in the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic and Eight Carat Classic and G3 Sunline Vase.
Now the winner of five of his eight starts, Warwoven settled three back on the fence and once into the clear, he exploded clear to win easing down by three lengths.
"He was dominant, he's very good, we know he's very good, and it was just very satisfying for him to go out there and do that,” regular rider Rachel King said.
“There was enough tempo on, there was enough pressure and he just put his head down and relaxed and was beautiful in the run.
"We know he's got an awesome turn of foot, and I was desperate to get him up over this kind of distance and probably even further. He's proven that he's the real deal."
26 Sep
2026
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Sword Of Stars has added winning momentum to her Classic preparation.
The daughter of Sword Of State had finished third when resuming in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes before she was untroubled to break her maiden in the hands of Michael McNab at the Phar Lap Raceway.
“To win like she did should give her a great deal of confidence. She raced well in good fields last season and she’s going in the right direction,” Walker said.
“It’s always exciting to win races with progeny by stallions that Te Akau has bought and trained, and Sword Of State is doing a great job at Cambridge Stud.”
Sword Of Stars will now head to the G3 War Decree Stakes as a lead into the New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
She was purchased for $350,000 by Te Akau’s Sir David Ellis from the draft of Windsor Park Stud and is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Angelic Miss with their dam the Guillotine mare Angelica Hall.
4 Oct
2026
Top class mare Qali Al Farrasha added a second stakes victory to her impressive career record when she burst clear in the concluding stages to win the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes (1400m) with consummate ease.
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Almanzor hadn’t been seen at the races since finishing just a neck behind Khanshe in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa back in April this year.
Traditionally a strong performer in her fresh-up runs, Saturday’s performance was no surprise albeit the ease of the victory in the hands of rider Wiremu Pinn was eye-catching as she simply destroyed her female rivals in the final 100m on the Heavy 8 rated surface that had been downgraded from a Soft 7 due to steady rain throughout the day.
Pinn bounced the mare smartly away from barrier six before allowing her to settle nicely in third as favourite Circus Dancer set up proceedings out in front.
Eased to a position out wider on the track turning for home, Qali Al Farrasha hit overdrive at the 200m as she raced past eventual runner-up Royal Flower and put the victory to bed as she coasted home to score by a widening two length margin at the winning post.
Pinn was confident of victory leading into the contest and the mare had delivered on those expectations.
“She is the one I came down here for,” Pinn said.
“The track was a little bit worrying, but she is a pretty good horse, is Group One placed and I thought this was an easy kill for her.
“It was a good training effort by Mark and Sam, and she was just the best horse in the race.”
Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd, Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis and Westonlea Bloodstock’s David and Matthew Peacocke from lightly raced Burgundy mare Nucleonic (NZ), Qali Al Farrasha is raced by Ellis and the Peacockes.
She has now won four of her 24 starts with the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) amongst those victories while seven of her 11 placed efforts include four at Group One level, with total prizemoney earned of $718,175. - Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
3 Oct
2026
The Heritage Centre at Cambridge Stud is a must-visit destination for anyone with an interest in this exciting industry.
At Cambridge Stud, we are more than just a world-renowned thoroughbred nursery; we are a family dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the equine industry.
