Racing: Tavistock to stand at Cambridge Stud

Patrick Hogan. Photo / Martin Sykes

Dual group one winner Tavistock is to join New Zealand's stallion ranks, the announcement coming the same day as news that High Chaparral will not return to the country for the next breeding season.

Tavistock will stand at Cambridge Stud after he has two more races: the A$400,000 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday and then A$300,000 All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 24, both group one events.

Tavistock, who races in Australia as Lord Tavistock, won the Mudgway Stakes in Hastings in August and the Waikato Sprint at Te Rapa in February. Both were group one 1400m events.

Cambridge Stud principal Sir Patrick Hogan expects Tavistock to be a major force at stud.

"The buying strength at Karaka this year told us that it's the classic middle-distance horse which is the most in demand," he told New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing.

"What we do best - better than Australia - is breed the classic, weight-for-age and middle distance horses. This horse is exactly what everyone is screaming out for.

"He's one of two Montjeus to show an enormous turn of foot," he said, Wall Street being the other. "What's more, Tavistock performs best on a hard, fast track."

Another son of Montjeu, Nom de Jeu, who won the 2008 AJC Derby, was also retired this season and will stand at Fairdale Stud in Manawatu.

Tavistock, trained by Andrew Campell at Masterton, won the group two Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington earlier this month.

However, hopes that shuttle stallion High Chaparral would return to Windsor Park Stud for another breeding season ended yesterday with the news he would stand at Coolmore Australia.

High Chaparral's first New Zealand crop was a sensation this season, featuring Cox Plate winner So You Think, Victoria Derby and Spring Champion Stakes winner Monaco Consul and Randwick Guineas victor Shoot Out.

"Although we are disappointed that High Chaparral is not returning this spring, we are grateful to have been able to offer New Zealand breeders the opportunity to access a world champion racehorse over a five-year period at a very reasonable fee," said Windsor Park boss Nelson Schick.

- NZPA