Windsor Park Stud were celebrating an important pedigree update on Tuesday after the running of the race that stops the nation.
The Cambridge farm is home to Bay Missile (Smart Missile – Aim For Gold), a half-sister to the dam of Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Vow and Declare (Declaration of War – Geblitzt).
Bay Missile is owned by Windsor Park Stud in partnership with Daniel Finn, who operates under the name Eton Bloodstock.
“I watched the race at Winsor Park, which is across the road from home,” HR professional Finn said.
“We were certainly anticipating he was going to have a good run so we backed him to win.”
“He was tipped to be a pretty impressive stayer so the two miles of the Melbourne Cup was always going to be his sweet spot.”
Purchased at the 2018 broodmare sale in Sydney for $70,000, Bay Missile had been identified as a mare whose progeny would be an asset in type and commercial appeal.
“I wasn’t at the sales though Rodney (Schick) was over there,” Finn said. “I had done a little bit of work with the team going through the book before the sales and I was on the phone when they were doing the bidding.”
Bay Missile was on the short list due to her sire, Fastnet Rock stallion Smart Missile, and also the racing performance of her immediate family.
“It is a good active family,” Finn said. “We had identified Lycurgus, a half-brother to Vow and Declare, as a stayer.
“He was doing very well at the time and that is what we were looking for in a pedigree.
“We were wanting something that was versatile that gave us good commercial options. We know we can’t compete (with Australia) when it comes to sprints, so we were looking at something with that good middle distance pedigree where we really do well.”
Placed at three in Australia, Bay Missile is a daughter of Group One performer Aim for Gold (End Sweep – Young Vic) and half-sister to Group Three winner Walking or Dancing (Falvelon) and Listed winner Irongail (Canny Lad).
Bay Missile was purchased in foal to Winning Rupert, though unfortunately lost the foal. She has a Charm Spirit colt at foot and Finn couldn’t be happier with the result.
“We have got a beautiful Charm Spirit colt at foot at the moment,” Finn said. “He is an impressive type, really strong and full of confidence.
“He looks to be a really nice type so we are thrilled to have him.”
Bay Missile is now in foal to Windsor Park Stud stallion Rip Van Winkle.
Finn wasn’t the only one celebrating a pedigree update after Vow and Declare’s Melbourne Cup win. Wellfield Lodge will offer a Pride of Dubai colt as lot 320 at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run sale out of Claystone (Zabeel), a half-sister to Bay Missile’s dam Aim for Gold.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association member Finn, who owns two broodmares in total, couldn’t speak highly enough of Schick, Windsor Park and their contribution to his experience with the thoroughbred industry.
“Windsor have been absolutely fantastic, Rod, Steve, the whole team there,” Finn said.
“I think they represent the industry extremely well and it is great as a small breeder to work with world class people.
“It’s a great association. I live close by, I neighbour the property and it has been fantastic. We have gone in again together with another mare we purchased this year in Australia.”
The 2019 Melbourne Cup might not have been won by a New Zealander but there are a few kiwis celebrating their connection to the winner of the time-honoured race. -Amie Best, NZTBA
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