13 May 2019Cambridge Stud has recognised the wider industry’s move to provide support to breeders, with the announcement of their 2019 stud fees today.
A number of studs have reduced fees, acknowledging that breeders are going through difficult times. For the breeding industry, it is critical that New Zealand maintains relevance with its major customer, Australia and part of that relevance is for stallion operators to supply nominations at an affordable level, allowing breeders to present commercial yearlings for a viable return.
The stud’s flagship stallion Tavistock will stand for $50,000 plus GST in 2019. Tavistock has enjoyed success at Group 1 level in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore, making him a truly international Group 1 sire. Tavistock’s Gr.1 successes include two Australian Derbys, two Rosehill Guineas and, in Hong Kong, his son Werther remains the highest rated 2000m horse of all time. In 2019 yearling market support for his progeny remained strong, particularly from Australian-based trainers and owners, underlining the confidence in the young stock coming through.
Roaring Lion comes to New Zealand as the highest rated three-year-old in the world last year. He achieved the Horse of the Year award from Cartier and World Champion Three-Year-Old award from Longines. In a remarkable season, Roaring Lion won four consecutive Gr.1 races at weight-for-age in the UK, giving him a Timeform rating of 130. Roaring Lion was a top-rated two-year-old as well, winning the Gr.2 Royal Lodge Stakes and finishing second in the Gr.1 Racing Post Trophy. In all of his victories, he displayed an extraordinary turn of foot which is the hallmark of a great racehorse and often a great stallion. Roaring Lion stands in the UK for £40,000 ($80,000). Cambridge Stud will make him available to NZ breeders at $35,000 plus GST.
Almanzor is a magnificent individual and the New Zealand breeding industry embraced him when he arrived for the 2018 season. Strong support from local breeders saw a number take shares in him and he covered a full book of 140 mares. With one of the best race records in Europe in the last 20 years, Almanzor remains the highest rated three-year-old of that era, with a Timeform rating of 133. His racing career was defined by an extraordinary turn of foot in all of his races which allowed him to defeat seven individual Gr.1 winners in the Irish Champion Stakes. His sire Wootton Bassett had a stellar season in France last year and his fee has doubled in 2019 from €20,000 to €40,000. Early reports and pictures of Almanzor’s Northern Hemisphere foals are very encouraging and he will stand at the same fee of $30,000.
Burgundy is a regally-bred son of Redoute’s Choice with runs on the board as a stallion. He was the sire of New Zealand Bloodstock Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year, Dijon Bleu, in his first crop and has good representation coming through in both New Zealand and Australia. Burgundy’s yearlings were sought after and many have gone to homes in Sydney and Melbourne, underlining the regard that Australia has for his sire Redoute’s Choice. Although Redoute’s Choice has sadly passed on, he has great representation in the stallion ranks and his sons are proving very popular at stud. Burgundy is a quality individual which resulted in him being a $1.3 million yearling. Burgundy will stand for a fee of $6000 plus GST.
A great-grandson of Sir Tristram, Embellish is the first Gr.1 winning son of Champion sire Savabeel to go to stud. Embellish won the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at only his fourth career start. He is a product of the classic Savabeel/O’Reilly cross that has produced multiple stakes winners both in New Zealand and Australia. A full brother to Group 1 winner Diademe and a $775,000 yearling, Embellish oozes quality and is a great exponent of New Zealand’s classic, international sire line. We strongly encourage breeders to come and see him at the farm. Cambridge Stud is offering a limited number of shares in Embellish and he will stand for a fee of $5000 plus GST.
TAVISTOCK NZ’s Leading International Gr.1 Sire $50,000 + GST
ROARING LION World Champion 3YO $35,000 + GST - New in 2019
ALMANZOR European Champion 3YO $30,000 + GST - First Foals in 2019
BURGUNDY Champion NZ Second Season Sire $6,000 + GST
EMBELLISH The Legacy Continues $5,000 + GST - New in 2019