Cover image courtesy of Windsor Park Stud
As a good-looking, Group 1-winning son of one of the greatest stallions of all time in Deep Impact, Profondo was always going to attract plenty of interest. And sure enough, that’s exactly how it has played out, with his book taking little time to be filled.
A month after Windsor Park Stud announced it would be standing the 2021 Spring Champion S. hero, it revealed his fee would be NZ$17,500 (plus GST).
“It’s very exciting, the response has been incredible,” Windsor Park’s Rodney Schick told TDN AusNZ.
“We bought him in partnership with Mapperley Stud and Ben Kwok and he was very, very popular from the minute we announced him.
“Even before we set the service fee, we knew he was going to have a decent book of mares.”
“It’s very exciting, the response (to Profondo) has been incredible.” - Rodney Schick
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, Profondo topped the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Ottavio Galetta going to $1.9 million for the colt, who is from the Group 3-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Honesty Prevails.
Schick said Profondo ticks all the boxes, combining regal bloodlines, good looks and racetrack success.
“He’s a $1.9 million yearling, a Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact and he’s a real rockstar, a tremendously handsome horse,” Schick explained.
“Honesty Prevails was a $720,000 yearling and a Group 3-winning 2-year-old by Redoute’s Choice, so when you put it all together, it’s pretty sexy stuff.
“Honesty Prevails was a $720,000 yearling and a Group 3-winning 2-year-old by Redoute’s Choice, so when you put it all together, it’s pretty sexy stuff.” - Rodney Schick
“We couldn’t be happier.”
Deep Impact’s record speaks for itself and his sons are now forging their own path. Satono Aladdin (Jpn) has done a great job for Rich Hill Stud, producing top-class progeny including Grand Impact (NZ), Sacred Satono (NZ), Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) and Pennyweka (NZ).
“The Deep Impact sireline has been successful in Australian and New Zealand Group 1, 2 and 3 racing recently,” Schick commented.
Quality barnmates
Profondo is one of five stallions to stand at Windsor Park Stud this spring, with Turn Me Loose (NZ), Circus Maximus (Ire), Vanbrugh and Shamexpress (NZ) all retained.
Gallery: The rest of Windsor Park Stud's 2023 stallion roster
The fee for Turn Me Loose has had a slight fee decrease and will stand for NZ$18,000 (plus GST).
The triple Group 1 winner’s banner horse is (She’s) Lickety Split (NZ) - the victress of the 2022 G1 Sistema S, Loosespender (NZ) is a recent stakes winner.
Turn Me Loose had one yearling make NZ$500,000 and two NZ$250,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
“He’s tracking really well at this stage, we’re really excited,” said Schick.
“He’s had a Group 1-winning 2-year-old, he’s left six stakes winners and plenty of other stakes horses, so he’s doing a great job.
“He’s (Turn Me Loose) had a Group 1-winning 2-year-old, he’s left six stakes winners and plenty of other stakes horses, so he’s doing a great job.” - Rodney Schick
“He’s got some big books coming and a lot of foals coming on.
“At the Ready to Run, he had one make NZ$500,000, and he’s sought-after in Hong Kong, too.”
Champion European Miler Circus Maximus shuttles from Coolmore in Ireland for his third season at Windsor Park and will stand at a fee of NZ$17,500 (plus GST).
“He’s a triple Group 1-winning son of Galileo and he’s got his first foals on the ground. We’re really happy with those,” Schick said.
“He’s had great support all the way through.
“We look forward to getting those yearlings to the sales and seeing them on the track.
“Galileo is one of the greatest sires we’ve seen and we’ve had a lot of success with that sireline through Montjeu and High Chaparral.”
Galileo (Ire)
Vanbrugh has sired three individual stakes winners this season, with Mustang Valley (NZ) scoring at the elite level.
His fee increases to NZ$10,000 (plus GST).
“He’s had a Group 1 winner, a Group 2 winner and Listed winner from a very small number of runners, so he’s done a great job,” Schick remarked.
“The year he went to stud, there were 14 stallions who went to stud and he just didn’t get the opportunity that we would have liked.
“He’s doing it the hard way and he’s really doing a good job.”
The veteran of the pack, Shamexpress, who is the sire of the multiple Group 1 victress Coventina Bay (NZ), will stand at a fee of NZ$8000 (plus GST).
| Turn Me Loose | Iffraaj | NZ$18000 | NZ$20000 | 139 |
| Profondo | Deep Impact | NZ$17500 | N/A | N/A |
| Circus Maximus | Galileo | NZ$17500 | NZ$20000 | 90 |
| Vanbrugh | Encosta De Lago | NZ$10000 | NZ$6000 | 106 |
| Shamexpress | O'Reilly | NZ$8000 | NZ$10000 | 61 |
Table: Windsor Park Stud's stallion fees for 2023, *all prices plus GST
