3 minute read

The first Group One race of the season has been run and won with Callsign Mav once again taking out the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings last Saturday.

For breeders Windsor Park Stud it's a welcome feeling of Groundhog Day with the five-year-old son of Atlante recording his sixth win.

"We are pretty chuffed really," said Windsor Park Stud principal Rodney Schick.

"To do that again this year was great, it was a gutsy run to get out there and win like that."

Following his win in the 2020 edition, Callsign Mav  ran third behind Melody Belle and Avantage in the second leg of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown, the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m).

Later in the season he won an open 1400m event as well as placing in the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m), Gr.1 BCD Sprint (1400m) as well as the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) and Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

Saturday's win topped off a good day for Windsor Park Stud, with Mustang Valley becoming the first stakes performer for their young Encosta de Lago stallion Vanbrugh earlier in the day when placing second in the Gr.3 Hawke's Bay Breeders' Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).

"Mustang Valley was a big thrill, being the first stakes performer for Vanbrugh," Schick said.

"She is out of a mare from Might and Power's family that I bought for $5,000 at the Gold Coast sale, it's nice to get something good out of that family again. Some of the team here are involved in the horse.

"I didn't really mind being beaten by Bellacontte who is owned by my good friend Ben Kwok."

Might and Power was one of the best horses bred by Windsor Park Stud and won the 1998 Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Sir Ron and Lady Margaret Trotter, valued former clients of Windsor Park Stud, are an integral part of the Callsign Mav story.

"The Trotter's were big supporters of Windsor Park, and after Sir Ron died Lady Margaret, who loved her horses continued to have an interest in a few mares until she passed away," Schick said.

"Steve Till bought Cremisi for Lady Margaret for $20,000. She was an impressive type of mare from a good Australian family descending from one of the original mares bred by Sir Tristan Antico of Baramul Stud in Hot Rhythm."

Cremisi was unraced but was a half-sister to five winners.  Her dam Redaria was also unraced but was a half-sister to the stakes winners.

Cremisi produced eight named foals who all raced with five of them being winners including the Group One winner The Party Stand who has gone on to produce a stakes performer in Petition. Another winner was Crimson Lady who won twice and was Group Three placed twice in South Australia, she in turn is a full sister to Raadisi, the dam of Callsign Mav.

"Steve liked Raadisi so much when she foaled here that he bought a half share and raced and bred from her with Lady Margaret," Schick said.

"She won three races but was a typical of a lot of Volksraads, she wasn't very big, so was a good mating with Atlante.

"When Simms (Davison) bought Atlante to stand at Mapperley we took a 12 percent share, so we sent a few mares there. I really liked Atlante, he was a lovely looking horse and a good racehorse so it was nice to be able to breed a Group One winner from him.

"Although we have none of the family any more it's still awesome that it has produced another Group One winner."

Raadisi has since died, she had one more foal after Callsign Mav, Bo Jackson by Mongolian Khan who won a race early last month.

"We sold Callsign Mav as a weanling for $3,000, so it just goes to show that Group One winners can come from anywhere and that you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get one," Schick said -