Cambridge Stud sires firing ahead of Karaka
Dennis Ryan - Raceform • January 9th, 2026 10:48 AM • 5 min read
As the countdown continues to New Zealand Bloodstock’s Centenary National Yearling Sales Series, one of the crucial factors to influence buyer choices will be the form of stallions with progeny set to go through the Karaka ring.
In that respect the Cambridge Stud trio of Almanzor, Hello Youmzain and Sword Of State are right on song with a string of quality performances capped on Saturday at Trentham by First Five’s dominant victory in the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph.
The Almanzor gelding has been one of the sprinting finds of the season, claiming his first open class success in last month’s Gr.3 J Swap Sprint at Te Rapa and graduating to weight-for-age company with an equally easy win down the Trentham dog-leg 1200m.
That form heads a quite remarkable run over recent weeks by progeny of Almanzor, an outstanding son of champion stallion Wootton Bassett who headed European three-year-old ranks with a Group One middle-distance treble. His stud career got off to a perfect start when the Karaka Million 2YO winner Dynastic anchored his first-season sire title.
From the same crop Almanzor came up with Victoria Derby winner Manzoice and his second northern hemisphere crop produced Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire, underlining their sire’s value as a source of stamina.
Just lately, however, the stars of the show have been shorter distance performers, with First Five joined by Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Qali Al Farrasha, Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes winner Lux Libertas (both at 1400m), and Mary Shan, who got her well-deserved black-type reward in the Gr.3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m).
In similar mode are Argo, who followed a winning double with a third placing in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Levin Classic at Trentham, and Caulfield winner Roadcone.
“Almanzor’s bread and butter horses have been his stayers – and some pretty good ones amongst them too – but the success others have been having lately over shorter distances just goes to show his versatility,” commented Cambridge Stud’s head of sales and nominations, Scott Calder.
“He’s such a good-looking horse who passes that on, and to see quality mares like Lux Libertas and Mary Shan hitting peak form and now First Five winning one of our very best sprint races is further proof of what Almanzor can do.
“An especially pleasing aspect of the group is that they were bred by some of our very best clients. Going back to his friendship with Sir Patrick (Hogan), Gerald Shand has had a long association with Cambridge Stud, and now he and his family have First Five and Mary Shan performing so well.
“The same with Kylie Bax and her parents Graham and Helen-Gaye – along with Lib Petagna – they’ve also been big supporters as illustrated by Lux Libertas. We get a real kick out of seeing horses bred by stud clients performing well, especially in these black-type races.”
A similar theme applies to a pair of headline acts in the first crop of Cambridge’s young Snitzel stallion Sword Of State. In a perfect debut for her sire, Torture won the Listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in October and after a late-closing fourth last weekend in her only start since, the Hayes Racing filly is equal favourite for the Karaka Millions 2YO.
Torture was bred by New Zealander Sir Owen Glenn, whose main racing and breeding focus is Australia, but also as the breeder of Sword Of State he has seen fit to support the former champion two-year-old.
Likewise major Australian entity Kia Ora Stud recognised Sword Of State when he retired to stud and purchased the stakes-winning mare Needle And Thread from the Valachi Downs dispersal to utilise their share nomination. The result is unbeaten colt Warwoven, who followed a winning Randwick debut for trainer Bjorn Baker with another impressive performance at Eagle Farm last Saturday and is now the even-money favourite for next week’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Closer to home, the Cambridge Stud-bred pair State The Obvious and Imperial Rose quinellaed the juvenile race at Te Aroha last Saturday to continue their sire’s rapid emergence.
“It meant a lot when Sword Of State began his stud career that he had the support of leading Australian-based breeders such as Kia Ora and Sir Owen, and now to see it translate into two obviously talented young horses underlines that,” Calder added.
“The start that Sword Of State has made to his stud career is nothing short of phenomenal; just to think that he has leading candidates in races like the Magic Millions and Karaka Millions – it really has exceeded our expectations and has created a buzz around what else is to come.”
Positioned between the well proven Almanzor and rising gun Sword Of State, Cambridge Stud’s leading European sprinter Hello Youmzain continues to raise his own bar with two crops on the track.
In Europe his slightly older progeny include five black-type winners up to Group Two level, while his New Zealand runners are headed by the Castletown Stakes, Ryder Stakes and Wanganui Guineas winner Platinum Diamond and Riccarton stakes winner Lucy In The Sky. Others on the local front are Wellington Stakes placegetter Landman and last Saturday’s Wellesley Stakes runner-up Sweetest Thing, along with others such as Drops Of God, Remala and Cream Tart, and in Australia Hello Romeo, Hello Captain and Stormland.
“Hello Youmzain got off to an excellent start as champion first-crop sire last season and in Australia and New Zealand his first crop produced eight two-year-old winners,” Calder said. “Across both hemispheres he had 80 first crop winners, including seven stakes winners, and he’s followed that up with horses now beginning to shine with more time on their side.”
All three Cambridge stallions will have strong representation at Karaka 2026, with the stud’s own 73-strong draft, consisting of 58 yearlings catalogued in Book 1 and another 15 in Book 2.
This group comprises Cambridge Stud’s entire crop earmarked for sale this year, with owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay making a respectful nod to New Zealand Bloodstock’s premier auction in this centenary year.
“In the past we have been involved to some degree at other sales, however this year Brendan and Jo made the decision to market their entire crop at Karaka,” Calder said. “That’s a mark of respect to the centenary sale, which is an historic milestone for a sale that has been the source of so many champion gallopers.
“It’s only fitting that Cambridge Stud, given the role it has played in the National Sale over many years, should get behind this sale in such a manner by offering its entire draft during such an important week in the history of the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding.”
*Cambridge Stud’s annual National Yearling Sale parade is scheduled for 12.30pm this Friday at the Discombe Road farm.
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