3 minute read

Cambridge Stud has announced the 2020 stud fees for their two stallions Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) and Embellish (Savabeel), with all contracts will now be on live foal payment terms, acknowledging the difficult climate facing breeders in New Zealand.

The roster will be headlined by European champion three-year-old Almanzor, who will stand his third season this year for a fee of NZ$30,000 (plus GST), unchanged from last year.

"Almanzor could not have enjoyed a better start to his stud career," said Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre. "He was well received in both hemispheres covering full books of 140 and 160 mares in New Zealand in his first two seasons.

"In his third season in France, European breeders took note of his exceptional foal sales at Tattersalls and Arqana and he is booked out at 140 mares again," Plumptre added. "The quality of his stock has been reflected in New Zealand with an outstanding line of foals from his maiden crop that included 52 stakes winners or dams of stakes winners."

Almanzor is again joined on the roster by New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Embellish. The royally bred son of Savabeel (Zabeel) was very well received in his first season at stud and his 2020 fee is set at NZ$4,000 (plus GST), down from NZ$5,000 a year ago.

Plumptre explains: "As the only Group One winning son of Savabeel standing at stud, Embellish represents amazing value coming as he does from New Zealand's prepotent sire line and with a magnificent pedigree. He has the looks that go with a $775,000 yearling price tag and the race performance to support his conformation. He bred 138 mares last season and Cambridge Stud will again be strong supporters in 2020."