There is no stopping the juggernaut that is the Cambridge Stud stallion ALMANZOR (FR) who has produced yet another Stakes Race quinella.
This time he played the starring role at Flemington on Anzac Day, siring two new stakes horses with the Winner and Runner-up in the $200,000 VRC St Leger LR (2800m) with his three-year-old daughters AHURIRI and ALMA RISE.
Ahuriri (by Almanzor) dashes to an easy win in the Listed VRC St Leger
Ahuriri became Super young sire ALMANZOR (FR) 17th Stakes Winner + whilst Alma Rise became his 23rd Stakes Placegetter from 3 crops of racing age.
Whilst Ahuriri became only the ninth (9th) filly to win the VRC St Leger since 1930, and the first since Exceptionally back in 2010.
Both Ahuriri and Alma Rise were rated among the favourites for Thursday’s staying test, with Alma Rise just shading her rival for favouritism at $3.30 after showing real promise with a win and a second in her only two previous appearances.
Alma Rise enjoyed a comfortable run in second on the outside of the front-running Ganbare, who was allowed to set a sedate speed out in front.
Ahuriri settled in fifth and one off the fence, well within striking distance all the way around the Flemington circuit.
Alma Rise cruised up alongside the leader at the top of the straight and clearly had him covered, but then Damian Lane angled Ahuriri out to the centre of the track and sent her into full flight. She bounded to the lead and went clear, opening up an impressive winning margin of 2.3 lengths over Alma Rise.
It was the second win of an eight-start career for Ahuriri, who has also collected three minor placings and has banked $173,125 in prizemoney. She was stepping down in class on Thursday, having finished eighth in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) in her previous start on a heavy track, and she showed her true colours on a drier surface with this clear-cut victory with Alma Rise just as easily claiming the runner-up berth at just her third raceday appearance.
“It all clicked into place for her,” Lane said. “It was obviously great placement. You can always be confident, when you throw your leg over these horses, that they’re fit and well. She was that and she handled herself really well.
“I was mindful that the two to beat would probably sit first and second in the run. I thought the leader may go a more genuine tempo, but I didn’t want to be giving too big a head start. I was able to get into a great position, only two or three lengths off the speed. That really helped me get into the race from the corner, and her turn of foot was just way too good.
“She’s got real stamina. She’s not very big, but she’s got a lot of heart and that’ll take her a long way.”
Ahuriri is out of the Darci Brahma mare Mackenzie Kate, who is a half-sister to triple Group One winner Lucia Valentina.
Ahuriri was a $210,000 purchase at Karaka 2022.
Alma Rise was a meritorious runner-up for a filly with limited experience. She is a daughter of the Bertolini mare Fashion Black, whose half-brother Xtravagant was a dual top-flight winner.
Thursday’s result continues the strong season for Almanzor, who has now been represented by 14 black-type performers across Australia and New Zealand since August 1.
That list is headed by the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) quinella of Circle Of Fire and Athabascan, along with fellow stakes winners Zabmanzor, Positivity, Moonlight Magic and Sudbina and this season’s unbeaten and stakes-winning two-year-old Nucleozor.
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ALMANZOR (FR) Shuttle Sire - stands in France and NZ
This win by AHURIRI was ALMANZOR’S 4th Individual Stakes Winner; 5th Stakes Win and he has also sired three (3) Stakes Placegetters in the month of APRIL.
AHURIRI (LR) joins CIRCLE OF FIRE (Gr1 and Gr2), MOONLIGHT MAGIC (Gr3) and NUCLEORZOR (LR);
Whilst ALMA RISE (2d LR) joins ATHABASCAN (2d Gr1), ALMARA (2d Gr3).
Runners Winners Wins SWnrs Swns Earnings
364 188 311 17 21 $18,955,280
Almanzor has again emphasised his standing in the Southern Hemisphere as a pre-eminent source of top-quality distance performers.
Positivity and Qali Al Farrasha finished second and third in last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and are entered for this Saturday’s Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.
Race Result - VRC St Leger LR 2800m; Flemington Track: Good (4) Time: 3:03.03
1st
Ahuriri - 3f Almanzor (FR) x Mackenzie Kate (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ)) Rdr: Damian Lane 56
NZB Karaka Book 1 $210,000 Seller: Blandford Lodge
2nd
2.3 lens Alma Rise - 3f Almanzor (FR) x Fashion Black (NZ) (Bertolini (USA)) Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
New Zealand-bred horses won 28.4% of Group One races in Australia last season from 8% of total runners.
With lush pastures and a temperate climate, New Zealand has a natural advantage when it comes to raising horses. New Zealand-bred racehorses are renowned for their quality and soundness, and they adapt well to a range of racing environments around the globe.
In particular, middle-distance and staying horses excel from being raised on their lush paddocks.
A recent article compared ALMANZOR to the legendary ZABEEL and highlighted how ALMANZOR is off to a faster and more productive start in his stud career than ZABEEL was at the equivalent stage.
Dynamic Syndications purchased a target colt by ALMANZOR at the Magic Millions to give us a genuine chance at Derbies and Cups and were thrilled to own him when the gavel fell at $125,000 + GST.
Since then, ALMANZOR progeny have really come to the fore, placing the young sire in Second place on the NZ 3YO Sires Premiership and Third on the Third Crop Sires Premiership in Australia and whilst last Saturday Anchovy’s first foal named Sailing Away (Merchant Navy) broke his Maiden at Riccarton and the Ciaron Maher team are very upbeat by the progression of the second foal named West Indies (by Fastnet Rock).
STAKES SUCCESS for ALMANZOR for past 90 Days Since the Magic Millions:
STAKES WINNERS = 5 (STAKES WINS = 6)
25/04/2024 Ahuriri (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Mackenzie Kate) 1st VRC St Leger LR, A$200000 2800m earning A$122725
20/04/2024 Moonlight Magic (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Japonica) 1st Auckland TR Championship S Gr.3, NZ$120000 2100m NZ$69000
13/04/2024 Circle of Fire (GB) 2020
(C. by Almanzor-Fiery Sunset) 1st ATC Sydney Cup Gr.1, A$2000000 3200m A$1314500
13/04/2024 Nucleozor (NZ) 2021
(G. by Almanzor-Nucleonic) 1st CJC Welcome S. L, NZ$80000 1000m NZ$46000
06/04/2024 Circle of Fire (GB) 2020
(C. by Almanzor-Fiery Sunset) 1st ATC Chairman's H. Gr.2, A$300000 2600m A$172000
02/03/2024 Positivity (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Pussy O'Reilly) 1st Auckland TR Sunline Vase Gr.3, NZ$150000 2100m NZ$86250
STAKES PLACINGS = 10 (7 x 2nds & 3 x 3rds)
25/04/2024 Alma Rise (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Fashion Black) 2nd VRC St Leger LR, A$200000 2800m earning A$36000
13/04/2024 Athabascan (FR) 2019
(G. by Almanzor-Alzubra) 2nd ATC Sydney Cup Gr.1, A$2000000 3200m
07/04/2024 Almara (FR) 2021
(F. by Almanzor-Molly Mara) 2nd ParisLongchamp Prix Vanteaux Gr.3, €80000 1800m
23/03/2024 Manzoice (AUS) 2019
(G. by Almanzor-Choice) 2nd ATC NE Manion Cup Gr.3, A$250000 2400m
16/03/2024 Nevercry (FR) 2021
(F. by Almanzor-Eversmile) 2nd Saint-Cloud Prix La Camargo L, €55000 1600m
16/03/2024 Positivity (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Pussy O'Reilly) 2nd WRC New Zealand Oaks Gr.1, NZ$500000 2400m
16/03/2024 Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Nucleonic) 3rd WRC New Zealand Oaks Gr.1, NZ$500000 2400m
02/03/2024 Holymanz (NZ) 2019
(G. by Almanzor-Perfect Offering) 2nd VRC Blamey S. Gr.2, A$300000 1600m
16/03/2024 Moonlight Magic (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Japonica) 3rd Taranaki RC Oaks Prelude L, NZ$80000 1800m
16/03/2024 Kay's Ruebe (NZ) 2021
(F. by Almanzor-Kay's Awake) 3rd Taranaki RC Taranaki 2YO Classic Gr.3, NZ$100000 1200m
STAKES PERFORMERS = 5 (4th in Stakes Races)
06/04/2024 Moonlight Magic (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Japonica) 4th Manawatu RC Manawatu Classic Gr.3, NZ$120000 2100m
30/03/2024 Athabascan (FR) 2019
(G. by Almanzor-Alzubra) 4th ATC Tancred S. Gr.1, A$1500000 2400m
16/03/2024 Athabascan (FR) 2019
(G. by Almanzor-Alzubra) 4th ATC Sky High S. Gr.3, A$350000 2000m
10/02/2024 Sudbina (NZ) 2020
(F. by Almanzor-Destined) 4th Waikato TR Sir Tristram Fillies Classic Gr.2, NZ$175000 2000m
31/01/2024 Zabmanzor (NZ) 2020
(C. by Almanzor-Zaborei) 4th Waikato TR Waikato Guineas Gr.2, NZ$160000 2000m
These stakes results for a third crop sire are phenomenal especially for a stallion whose progeny are bred for distance racing.
A DYNAMIC Review:
Race Record: ALMANZOR (FR)
11 Starts 8-0-1 £737,230, €1,901,600.
Champion 3YO Colt in Europe in 2016, Champion 3YO in Ireland & France in 2016 (Int.). 8 wins-3 at 2-from 1400m to 2100m, £737,230, €1,901,600, Chantilly Prix du Jockey Club, Gr.1, Leopardstown Irish Champion S., Gr.1, Ascot Champion S., Gr.1, Deauville Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, Gr.2, Chantilly Prix de Guiche, Gr.3, Grand Criterium de Bordeaux, L, 3d Chantilly Prix de Fontainebleau, Gr.3.
He entered stud in France in 2018. (oldest 5yo's)
He entered stud in NZ in 2018. (oldest 4yo's)
Dynamic Syndications at the Magic Millions in 2024 purchased Lot 429 a fantastic staying prospect.
OUR COLT
ALMANZOR (FR) from ANCHOVY (IRE) a daughter of GALILEO to be trained by ….. CIARON MAHER !
The colt comes from one of the BEST FEMALE FAMILIES in Europe.
He has crystal clean X-Rays and a perfect Grade 1 Endoscopic evaluation.
Even before the win of CIRCLE OF FIRE – we knew this was a sensational mating offering a Score of A+++ and a Q6 Rating.
We bought our colt to aim at Derbies; Cups and the $1m Magic Millions Stayers Race.
See For Yourself: Under Saddle
Almanzor x Anchovy from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
Whilst there has been three (3) stakes winners bred on this cross to date producing three (3) Gr1 Winners:
AL RIFFA, (Gr1),
ZELLIE (Gr1) and
CIRCLE OF FIRE (Gr1).
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Dynamic Syndications placed him into the care of CIARON MAHER.
AT THE SALES:
Lot 429 - Almanzor (FR) x Anchovy (IRE) from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
Magic Millions Lot 429 - Almanzor (FR) x Anchovy (IRE) colt - Auction Video from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
At play in the paddock
We have some exciting updates with the colt, who is now broken-in and moves beautifully under saddle.
First Ride
Shares will be offered later in the year.
Keep an eye out for this potential CUPS KING !
Hoofnote: We have not created a website for this Colt at this date.
We were planning to bringing him to market in the second half of 2024.
However he has been well found already with many of our VIP Owners having secured shares.
If you wish to find out more - chat with ADAM WATT on 02 9540 1511 or 0409 464 378.
If you harbour a dream of Blue Riband Classic Races such as Derbies and Cups this is your colt!