Cambridge Stud unveils 2026 stallion roster with addition of Champion Miler Charyn

Cambridge Stud has announced its stallion roster for 2026, with the outstanding Charyn to stand at the farm in partnership with Nurlan Bizakov’s French operation Sumbe.

The World Champion Miler and Cartier Champion Older Horse of 2024 brings elite international form and a world-class pedigree to the farm’s line- up.

Charyn’s talent was evident from an early age, highlighted by victory in the Gr.2 Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte at two.

His championship season as a four-year-old featured victories in three of Europe’s premier mile contests: the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes, Gr.1 Prix Jacques le Marois and Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes to become the first horse to complete the prestigious Group 1 treble.

Charyn is the highest earner by Dark Angel, a champion sire in Great Britain and Ireland whose influence is already being felt in Australasia through his successful sire son Harry Angel.

On the dam side, Charyn is out of a stakes-performed daughter of Kodiac, who has also produced the Gr.2-winning juvenile Wings of War.

“The acquisition of Charyn for the Cambridge Stud stallion roster is the beginning of another exciting chapter for the stud and a very important relationship with Nurlan Bizakov’s Sumbe in Normandy,” said Sir Brendan Lindsay, who owns Cambridge Stud with his wife Lady Jo Lindsay.

“While Cambridge Stud is delighted to secure Charyn for stud duties in New Zealand, we are also looking forward to the relationship with Sumbe.

“As we have found with Haras d’Etreham and Juddmonte, the stallion is important, but a lasting relationship with the Bizakov family, Tony Fry and the Sumbe team is just as important.

“His status as the highest-rated miler in the world of his year stamps him as an elite performer, and we are excited to show him to the New Zealand industry.”

Nurlan Bizakov said Cambridge Stud was the perfect fit for Charyn and looked forward to a successful partnership with the iconic New Zealand nursery.

“I am delighted and honoured to confirm the agreement with Cambridge Stud to stand Charyn for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, and I would like to warmly thank Sir Brendan Lindsay, Henry Plumptre and their entire team for their confidence in the stallion, as well as for their enthusiasm and support,” he said.

“It is a prestigious stud with a highly significant broodmare band, providing an outstanding platform to support a stallion of Charyn’s calibre.

“I am confident that Charyn will greatly appeal to Southern Hemisphere breeders, thanks to his physical presence and athleticism, which he consistently passes on to his foals.

“I am therefore pleased to announce the beginning of what I hope will be a prosperous and successful partnership for the future between Sumbe and Cambridge Stud.”

Henry Plumptre was over the moon to have secured the services of such a high-class individual.

“Charyn’s three Group 1 victories, in elite events and against elite opposition, showcased his tactical speed and a great turn of foot,” Cambridge Stud’s Chief Executive Officer said.

“He distanced strong opposition in the Queen Anne and the Prix Jacques le Marois, but was tested in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, responding with great courage to draw clear. That determination, combined with his natural speed, gained him a Timeform rating of 127.

“We have just spent two days in France with the Sumbe team and CEO Tony Fry. Charyn presents as a standout individual – strong, with good scope and quality. He is a particularly good mover, and his athleticism is quite obvious.

“We were delighted with him and the small sample of foals that we were shown at Sumbe. They were a very even bunch, mostly between four and six weeks old, but already developing strong tops, good bone and their sire’s quality.

“Dark Angel continues to produce at the elite level in Europe, and the success of Harry Angel in Australia should give further confidence. The fact that Dark Angel is achieving his best black-type results with Danzig, Danehill, Exceed And Excel and Gone West can only enhance his prospects in New Zealand.

“I am confident that breeders in New Zealand and Australia will have no hesitation in supporting him when they see him.”

Charyn will stand for a fee of $35,000 + GST in 2026.

Sword of State’s first two-year-olds were highly anticipated following the 2025 yearling sales, and his progeny have wasted no time delivering on that promise.

In Australia, high-class colt Warwoven captured the Gr.3 Pago Pago Stakes, while Torture triumphed in the Listed Debutant Stakes. In New Zealand, his early flagbearer has been Gr.1 Sistema Stakes placegetter State of Valour.

Another strong showing for Sword of State’s progeny at the sales in 2026 was highlighted by the sale topping price of $1,100,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Book 1 Yearling Sale.

Those results have seen the son of Snitzel’s fee increase to $50,000 + GST.

“It is unprecedented for a New Zealand-based stallion to sire two stakes-winning two-year-olds in Australia, let alone from his first crop,” said Cambridge Stud Sales and Nominations Manager Scott Calder.

“Sword of State’s sale results over the last two years have been what you would expect from a horse standing at a much higher fee, and it is great to see that market confidence translate into results on the track.

“He still has a lot more horses coming through from that first crop, and we are incredibly excited about him.”

Chaldean, the only Gr.1-winning two-year-old by Frankel at stud in Australasia, will enter his third season in New Zealand at a fee of $35,000 + GST.

“The win by Sir Delius in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was another reminder not only of Frankel’s prowess as a stallion, but also of his incredible record in Australia,” Calder said.

“Chaldean’s mix of pedigree and race record makes him an especially attractive stallion prospect.

The Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes and Gr.1 2000 Guineas winner was the leading first-crop sire at the weanling sales in Europe, with an average of £106,107 (NZ$245,000), and Cambridge Stud is confident his southern hemisphere stock will make a similar impression.

“Henry was very impressed by his foals at the Tattersalls December Sale, where they generated some exceptional results,” Calder said.

“I doubt many young stallions in New Zealand have received the calibre of mares he has in his first two crops, and we expect the buying bench will be drawn to them here as well.

Associate sire Almanzor will stand for $25,000 + GST after another successful season in which he sired five Group winners, headed by First Five, who completed a Gr.1 sprint double in the BCD Sprint and Telegraph Stakes.

On the world stage his star performer was Gr.1 French Oaks and Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Gezora.

“He keeps showing that he is a dependable source of black-type winners, and adding a Gr.1 weight-for-age sprinter this season is another string to his bow,” Calder said.

“In the sale ring this year, he achieved a 100 per cent clearance rate for his 34 yearlings at Karaka, no mean feat for any stallion. At his fee, I think he offers breeders an appealing mix of racetrack credibility and commercial upside.”

Hello Youmzain’s 37 winners this season have included four at stakes level, most recently when his two-year-old daughter Enchantment won the Listed Welcome Stakes earlier this month. The multiple Gr.1-winning sprinter will stand for $20,000 + GST.

“Hello Youmzain has had a very productive season, and an impressive winners-to- runners strike rate is becoming a hallmark of his in both hemispheres,” Calder said.

“He has produced black-type-winning two and three-year-olds, and I’m looking forward to his first crop turning four, as that is when he reached his peak in the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot.”

Rounding out the roster is Embellish, who will stand for $5000 + GST. The son of Savabeel’s progeny continue to perform strongly on the track, with his domestic progeny this season including Gr.2 Lowland Stakes winner Ultimate Habit, while in Australia Kazaru won the Listed Tasmanian Oaks.

“If you are looking to breed a racehorse on a budget, Embellish does the job very well,” Calder said.

“From a low fee and with just over 100 runners, he has already sired six stakes winners. He also grabbed headlines at the sales when one of his daughters topped Book 2 at Karaka, selling for $200,000 to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.”