Windsor Park Delighted with First SW Circus Maximus

Media Release - Monday May 5

Promising youngster Towering Vision crowned a successful couple of days for Windsor Park Stud when he credited resident sire Circus Maximus with his first Southern Hemisphere black-type winner.

The farm graduate claimed top honours in Saturday’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa a day after the farm hosted another top edition of their annual Rugby, Racing and Beer Sale at Riccarton.

Towering Vision credited his sire Circus Maximus with his first Southern Hemisphere black-type winner at Te Rapa on Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Towering Vision is a first crop representative of Galileo’s triple Group One winner Circus Maximus.

“This is the time of the year you want to be doing it with this type of stallion, Ha’penny Hatch was stakes placed the previous weekend, and this is what we really want going into the breeding season,” Windsor Park’s Rodney Schick said.

“The favourite, Engine Of War, was scratched and he’s an exciting horse and then Rufus will also be running in the Champagne Stakes in a couple of weeks as well.

“It’s really starting to happen for Circus Maximus, so we’re really excited.”

Towering Vision was offered by Windsor Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and Te Akau’s David Ellis purchased the son of the unraced Iffraaj mare Qiji Vision for $105,000.

“He was off the farm, I bought him from a client as a weanling,” Schick said.

“The Circus Maximus’ are not really bred to be out and out two-year-olds, but you want to see them start to operate at the back end of the season.”

Advertisement

The weekend was kick-started by Windsor Park’s Riccarton Sale, which again featured 10 yearlings.

“It was fantastic and we sold all 10, highlighted by the filly that went to Ben Kwok for $100,000,” Schick said.

“She is a lovely, sharp filly and very much in the mould of Sword Of State.”

She is a daughter of Sword Of State and the Charm Spirit mare Paper Dragon, a sister to the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) winner and multiple Group placegetter Pacific Dragon.

“That was our fourth sale and we’ve taken 40 horses down there and sold them all, so it’s been a great clearance rate,” Schick said.

Steve Davis again auctioned off the lots with a pair of high-profile guest speakers complementing the occasion.

“We had All Black legend Kieran Read come to speak as well as Will Hayes from Lindsay Park, and what an outstanding young guy he is,” Schick said.

“We had a great day and a lot of fun, the weather turned it on for us at the end after the weather bomb, so it all went to plan.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Stakes-Winner for Circus Maximus
Handsome two-year-old Towering Vision broke his maiden status in the best possible fashion when he took out the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) in a torrid finish at Te Rapa to become the first SW for his sire Circus Maximus (IRE) anywhere in the world.
Spring Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at Warwick Farm on Friday morning with a couple of heats for Group and Listed winners that included Lady Shenandaoh, Ceolwulf, plus Cups contender Sir Delius (GB).
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Lookalike Star Turn Colt Franks Hot Form Race
When Angel Ladder won the first race at Geelong coming out of the VRC Next Gen Series Sprinters Final won by Jimmy Recard, you would think punters would have looked closely at Redders in the following event coming out of the same race, but he slipped under their guard.
Hello Youmzain Filly Chasing Another Stakes Win
The Lisa Latta-trained pair of Platinum Diamond and Brutiful Lass will bid to end their juvenile season in perfect fashion at Otaki on Saturday when they tackle the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m).
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Expensive North Pacific Salutes at Geelong
The highest priced yearling for first season sire North Pacific, promising two year-old filly Angel Ladder opened her account with a tenacious win at Geelong on Friday.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi stayer Mark Twain on Comeback Trail
One-time Melbourne Cup fancy Mark Twain will make his first public appearance for more than 12 months when the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding has an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.