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Those associated with Cambridge Stud were in full voice during the closing stages of the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday as Manzoice (Almanzor / Choice (NZ)) became his sire Almanzor’s first Group One winner.
“It is a dream result,” Cambridge Stud Chief Executive Henry Plumptre said.
“It is one that you hope for but it doesn’t happen very often - a Group One in your first crop.
“We have had half a dozen nice colts (by Almanzor) including Dynastic in New Zealand and Manzoice in Australia, and a couple of others like King’s Crossing and Virtuous Circle.”
Plumptre was full of praise for winning trainer Chris Waller.
“We went into it hopeful rather than confident,” he said.
“It was the combination of him being a very nice horse and the training genius of Chris Waller that got him over the line.
“He wasn’t coming into the race off a perfect preparation. I think Waller is extraordinary at presenting these horses at their peak on the right day.”
Plumptre said getting a Derby win so early in his stud career is pivotal for Almanzor as a sire, which Cambridge Stud have supported with a number of their blue hen mares, with several more earmarked to head to the stallion next year following their raceday retirement.
“It is very important for the stallion and vindicates sending mares to him like Probabeel and Amarelinha,” Plumptre said.
“We have that nice mare, Excelida, that ran third in the Empire Rose (Gr.1, 1600m) on the weekend. She will come back next year and got to Almanzor.
“She will go to the paddock and have six to eight weeks off. Presuming that she goes right-handed, we have never tried her right-handed, what we would like to do is end up in Brisbane at the Tatt’s Tiara (Gr.1, 1400m). I think 1400m is her best trip.
“We have been delighted with the way the Hayes boys have been able to keep her going. She is a six-year-old mare now and has found about five lengths in the last year.
“She is Trelawney bred, we bought her off Brent and Cherry (Taylor). They have been great supporters of our stallions, they have never missed buying shares in them.
“It was nice to support them, and we have got a really nice mare out of it.”
While still coming down from the high of Saturday’s result, Plumptre is looking forward the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) where the farm’s former stallion Tavistock will have three runners, including Young Werther, Stockman and Tralee Rose, with all three horses having been bred by Cambridge Stud founders Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan.
Tralee Rose was purchased out of Cambridge Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by trainer Symon Wilde and bloodstock agent Cameron Cook for $50,000, while Young Werther was purchased by O’Brien Thoroughbreds and Aquis Farm out of their 2019 draft for $140,000, and Stockman was purchased out of their 2018 draft by John Thompson Racing and Proven Thoroughbreds for $175,000.
“We went down to Danny O’Brien’s and saw Young Werther working the other morning. He has got to be a good eachway chance,” Plumptre said.
“If we can get a homegrown horse across the line, that would be fantastic. He is well weighted, so hopefully he gets a good run.”
– NZ Racing Desk
