Windsor Park Stud to Partner Karaka Stayers Cup

The Schick family's Windsor Park Stud has thrown its weight behind the newest addition to NZB's Karaka Million Series, pledging a three-year commitment to the $100,000 Karaka Stayers Cup (2200m).

Rodney Schick from Windsor Park Stud.

The Karaka Stayers Cup was introduced last year, expanding the Karaka Million Series to three feature races and catering to the middle-distance and staying horses New Zealand is well-known for breeding.

“The Karaka Million Twilight Meeting is a great night,” commented Rodney Schick of Windsor Park Stud. “We like to support the New Zealand industry which has an emphasis on breeding stayers and we would like to support this side of New Zealand racing.

“It is great for Windsor Park Stud as we tend to breed the middle-distance and staying type of horse and that is where our stallions tend to sit in New Zealand breeding.”

NZB's Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela welcomes the Stud's commitment.

"It's great to have one of NZ's leading breeders align itself with the Stayers Cup. It's a great fit given the history of success Windsor Park has had through NZ's and Australia's staying ranks over the years. Our ambition is to continue to grow this race, and the Series, into the future and we're grateful to Windsor Park for getting behind it and supporting that growth."

Windsor Park Stud has played a big part in some of the best stayers to come out of New Zealand in recent times with the likes of So You Think (NZ), Might and Power (NZ), Descardo (NZ), Moncao Consul (NZ) and Nom du Jeu (NZ) all bred at Windsor Park Stud or by a sire that stood at the Stud.

The current Windsor Park Stud roster will look to further strengthen the middle-distance and staying ranks in New Zealand with the likes of Rip Van Winkle, Guillotine and Thewayyouare breeding the potential stayers of the future. 

Add to that, the early success of former Windsor Park Stud shuttle sire Mastercraftsman whose three-year-old progeny are showing promise over middle-distances and the large crop of yearlings that will be offered by former Windsor Park Stud sire and Group 1 Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi.

For the next three years the 'Windsor Park Stud Stayers Cup', run over 2200m, is open to all Karaka Yearling Sale graduates whether they are Karaka Million nominated or not. From 2018, this race will be restricted to horses that have been entered in the Karaka Million Series.

The 2015 Karaka Million Twilight Meeting is from 4pm on 25 January at Auckland Racing Club’s Ellerslie Racecourse and consists of three feature races:

• NZB $1m Karaka Million (Res. Listed) – New Zealand’s Richest Race.
• NZB Insurance $100,000 Karaka 3YO Mile (Res. Listed).
• Windsor Park Stud $100,000 Karaka Stayers Cup.

Other sponsors on the night include Nick and Anne-Marie King's Brighthill Farm and Gordon Cunningham's Curraghmore Stud.

The Karaka Million Twilight Meeting is the held on the eve of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series with the first day of the Premier Sale commencing at 11am on Monday 26 January at Karaka.

For more information on the Karaka Million Series, click here.