Stellar Season for Almanzor

Media Release - Monday August 1

Almanzor had New Zealand first season sire honours in safe keeping some months ago before he was officially bestowed the prestigious title at the season’s close.

He claimed the crown with unsurpassed progeny earnings for a freshman stallion and to cap a sparkling start to his career also earned the Champion Two-Year-Old title.

Almanzor

The son of Wootton Bassett enjoyed a multiple Group One-winning career on the racetrack and has quickly turned stallion potential into performance with his first crop of Australasian two-year-olds in 2021-22.

From his Southern Hemisphere residency at Cambridge Stud, Almanzor’s New Zealand representatives amassed first season sire record earnings of $701,935.

“He’s been the champion first season sire off the back of Dynastic’s Karaka Million win, which was great,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said.

“I think more importantly for us is that even though his winners haven’t all been metropolitan ones, he’s showed he’s got depth out there and can build on that next season.

“He’s had seven individual winners, which for me is almost as important as the Karaka Million win.

“The Karaka Million is a critically important race if you’re a Kiwi and buying through the New Zealand Bloodstock Sales series and it was very rewarding that the horse won.”

Advertisement

Almanzor’s flagship performer to date is Te Akau colt Dynastic, who also finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). His performances have him bidding for Champion Two-Year-Old honours.

“I don’t think anyone who looked at Dynastic as a yearling thought for one minute that he would be a January two-year-old,” Plumptre said.

“They look like three-year-old types, they are big, scopey horses with plenty of size and substance that will take time to grow into themselves.

“If you take on a European style of horse I suppose you have to accept that to a certain extent. We’re obviously delighted with the title of champion first season sire and what we need to see now is more of them coming through.

“Importantly for New Zealand and Cambridge Stud is that we know the Australian trainers that have got them are very much engaged with the horse.

“It’s important that the local boys have Almanzors and we want them to prosper, but 65 per cent of our yearlings go to Australia and that’s where we have to make a mark.”

Dimaggio and Trav were also New Zealand winners for the sire and Andalus was twice Group placed while in Australia, Almanzor’s sons Grinzinger Bishop, Virtuous Circle, Roznamla and Islero all posted victories to draw further attention to their sire. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
One to Watch – Sha Tin – You Don’t See That Every Day!
The Mark Newnham stable has been on fire in Hong Kong since the start of the new season and the former Sydney trainer produced a super promising winner at Sha Tin on Sunday by Capitalist that did everything wrong and miraculously still won the race!
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.