High-profile Cambridge Stud resident Almanzor enjoyed a memorable weekend, both on and off the track.
The internationally successful sire son of Wootton Bassett was a major player at Ellerslie where his daughters Pounce and Asturia played starring roles on Saturday, while his son First Five was honoured at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards the following evening.
The David Greene-trained First Five was named Champion Sprinter-miler courtesy of his Group One victories in the Telegraph (1200m) and the BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
Homebred Pounce drew attention to her future prospects of higher honours when the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-prepared filly trounced her rivals in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1200m) in the hands of champion jockey Craig Grylls.
She was sold through Cambridge Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale with Wexford Stables signing the ticket at $110,000 for the first foal of Caminata.
“As time has gone by, we’ve learned what works best for Almanzor and he loves mares with Danehill and Zabeel in the pedigrees especially,” said Cambridge Stud’s Head of Sales and Nominations Scott Calder.
“Pounce is out of a Darci Brahma mare who combines both of those bloodlines, so it’s nice when a plan comes together.”
A brother to Pounce will be offered at the 2027 yearling sale, while the farm has retained a two-year-old half-sister to Pounce by Embellish named Alta Via, with the dam due to shortly foal to Almanzor.
Caminata was a two-time winner in Cambridge Stud’s colours when trained by Tony Pike, who also prepared her sister Summer’s Day to claim the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m).
Te Akau Racing’s Asturia impressively beat a competitive age group line-up over 1400m on debut for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, with Grylls also in the saddle.
“This crop of just turned three-year-olds is from the first year Almanzor stood at the increased fee of $50,000 off the back of the early results he had,” Calder said.
“We were always hoping it would be a crop that showed a lot of promise and Pounce now looks among the best spring three-year-olds, and Asturia is also a filly that looks well up to gaining black type.”
Bred by Monovale Holdings, she was sold through Landsdowne Park’s draft at Karaka with Te Akau chief David Elllis securing her for $135,000.
She is a daughter of the Zabeel mare Kay’s Legacy, who is a half-sister to Almanzor’s son and Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) winner Rise At Dawn.
First Five aside, Almanzor has also sired Australian Group One winners Manzoice (VRC Derby, 2500m) and Circle Of Fire (Sydney Cup, 3200m), while Gezora has claimed top-flight victories in the French Oaks (2100m) and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
