Windsor Park’s Circus Maximus takes centre stage
Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) crowned a momentous week for Windsor Park Stud when he provided the farm’s resident sire Circus Maximus with his first elite level success on Champions’ Day at Ellerslie.
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained representative triumphed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in the hands of Geroge Rooke for Queensland breeder-owners Ron and Judi Wanless.
His victory came hard on the heels of Windsor Park, with Mapperley Stud and Lion Rock Racing, signing Savabeel’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Savaglee (NZ) to the stud’s stallion roster.
There was also a further celebration at Ellerslie for the farm when Road To Paris’ stablemate Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweynesse), bred by Windsor Park Marketing Manager Mike Moran and wife Helen, won the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m).
The lightly raced Road To Paris was making his seventh appearance, with his Derby success coming off a runner-up finish in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m).
“It was a wonderful day for us and pretty special to get a Blue Riband winner sired from the first crop of one of our stallions,” Windsor Park General Manager Steve Till said.
“Back in the spring when Robert Wellwood was here at the farm, he said they had a horse they were setting on a Derby path and Roger’s now won it seven times and Robert has got his second in partnership.
“This is by design and a massive compliment to them and their abilities as trainers.”
A son of Galileo, Circus Maximus has delivered on lofty expectations following a glittering racing career that netted three Group One victories.
“It’s pretty rare to have a New Zealand-based stallion win a New Zealand Derby from their first crop,” Till said.
“We were lucky enough to have Thorn Park win it with Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park). Group One races are hard enough to win, let alone a Derby.
“We also had High Chaparral, who trifectaed an AJC Derby (Shoot Out, Descarado, Monaco Consul) from his first crop and to now to get one in your back yard is tremendous.”
Road To Paris is Circus Maximus’ third individual Southern Hemisphere stakes winner, joining Towering Vision (NZ) (Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Stakes, 1400m) and Circus Dancer (NZ) (Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes, 1340m).
“There’s any amount of top stables who are complimentary about the horses they have by Circus Maximus in their stables,” Till said.
Among them domestically are Te Akau, Andrew Forsman and Stephen Marsh while Mick Price and Ciaron Maher are also Australian-based members of the fan club.
“Circus Maximus is beautifully bred, being by one of the greatest sire stallions, if not the greatest of the modern era and out of a champion mare (Duntle),” Till said.
“He’s a magnificent individual and it was interesting in the TV coverage to hear Jayne Ivil spruiking Road To Paris from the paddock and he certainly gets that from his Dad.
“He has been so well supported in his first three seasons, averaging over 100 mares, so there’s very exciting times to come.”
Adding to that, is Savaglee who will join Circus Maximus, Auguste Rodin, Paddington, Profondo, Shamexpress, Vanbrugh and Turn Me Loose at Windsor Park, while Armory stands in association at Mapperley.
“It was wonderful to secure Savaglee, he was obviously a very good looking yearling because (The Oaks Stud owner) Dick Karreman and Rick Williams (General Manager) paid a lot of money ($400,000) for him,” Till said.
“When we inspected him, it was easy to see why. He’s got race performance, type and pedigree and that’s very hard to get.
“The Oaks were very easy to deal with and we managed to nail it down, so we’ve got another beautiful horse to offer breeders later this season.”
