Good news for Kiwi breeders with the announcement Almanzor (Fr) will now be permanently based in New Zealand at Cambridge Stud, who have acquired the full breeding rights to the champion son of Wootton Bassett, who has sired 19 stakes-winners, 12 of them in Australasia headed by Group I winners Manzoice and Circle of Fire.
“We have experienced an emotional ride with Almanzor, and he has been the symbol of a new dynamic within the stud, both from a breeding and stallion perspective,” said Nicolas de Chambure, Haras d'Etreham's executive director, in a statement on Tuesday.
“His victory in the 2016 Prix du Jockey Club represented a major exploit and a great joy for the whole Etreham team. A magnificent individual, he immediately appealed to Jean-Claude Rouget who purchased him as a yearling for more than 16 times the stud fee of his sires.
"Thanks to his exceptional performances, Almanzor remains the best son of Wootton Bassett.
"After six seasons of shuttling it is logical for us to accept the offer from Cambridge Stud, which will allow the stallion to remain in the hemisphere where he is the most successful.
"We wish them continued success for the future, and we would like to express our thanks to all the shareholders and breeders who have supported Almanzor during his covering seasons at Etreham.”
Standing at a fee of $30,000 this spring, Almanzor had a stakes quinella at Caulfield last Saturday with Rise at Dawn and Positivity running one/two in the Listed MRC Heatherlie Stakes.
