Wyndspelle, the Group 1 winner of the Captain Cook Stakes has died suddenly at Victoria’s Wyndholm Park Stud after a freak accident.
“Today I share the devastating news that Wyndspelle is gone” said his breeder and long-time syndicate manager-owner Jen Campin.
Wyndholm Park Stud’s owner Kim McKellar confirmed the stallion died from injuries sustained after taking fright from a kangaroo.
The son of Iffraaj had been building his momentum as a sire at Wyndholm Park after commencing his study career at Cornwall Park Stud.
As a racehorse, Wyndspelle was one of NZ’s finest of his era.
Wyndspelle ran second in the Grp 1 Sistema Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old before winning the Grp 2 Waikato Guineas and the Grp 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes at three.
Wyndspelle ran second to Shadows Cast in the Grp 1 Thorndon Mile. He was able to turn the tables on Shadows Cast ten months later when taking out the Grp 1 Captain Cook Stakes.
His efforts also included two gallant seconds behind champion mare Melody Belle in the Grp 1 Hanui Classic and the Grp 1 Tarzino Trophy.
“He was a gentleman of a horse, and the racegoers loved him” Campin said in a statement today. “There was a kindness about him, a presence, that people were drawn to. He was tough. He was sound. He had heart. He was a horse that never gave in. He gave everything”.
“Wyndspelle was more than a racehorse and stallion to me. He represented four decades in this industry. His loss for me is profound”
Campin thanked all who had become part of the Wynsdspelle story “To those who stood beside us — thank you. To my original owners, Neil Randles and the late John Frew he was our dream horse that gave us all such joy and excitement for many years. And a special thanks and sincere condolences to Kim KcKellar and his team at Wyndholm Park Stud.”
