Chaldean heads Cambridge Stud roster at NZ$35,000, as Sword Of State is raised to NZ$20,000

Cover image courtesy of Cambridge Stud

Cambridge Stud, one of New Zealand's premier breeding establishments, has revealed its roster and service fees for the 2025 breeding season.

Cambridge Stud has announced an unchanged stallion roster for the 2025 breeding season, with just one fee adjustment — a well-earned rise for the exciting young sire Sword Of State, who has been extremely popular at the yearling sales this year. The iconic New Zealand nursery continues to build momentum, supported by strong racetrack performances and standout yearling sale results across its stallion ranks.

“Whether it be on the racetrack or in the sale ring, all our stallions have had a past 12 months to be proud of,” said Cambridge Stud’s Sales and Nominations Manager, Scott Calder.

"If you look at the roster they are top-class race horses, the stallions they represent are the best of New Zealand, Australian, and European breeding. They are the kind of horses we want to offer, and just as importantly, they are the kind of stallions that we are confident to back heavilly ourselves."

A sharp start for Sword of State in the sales ring

The son of Snitzel has made a statement in the sales ring this year, with his first yearlings averaging over NZ$200,000 and selling for up to NZ$540,000. His fee reflects that momentum, increasing from NZ$15,000 to NZ$20,000 plus GST.

At the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, Sword Of State had seven yearlings sell for NZ$250,000 or more, including a colt out of Fuld’s Bet (I Am Invincible) who fetched $540,000 to the bid of Mulberry Racing.

He was also well received on the Gold Coast, with three yearlings making $300,000 or more, led by the colt out of Needle And Thread (Makfi {GB}), purchased for $340,000 by a strong alliance of Ridgmont, Bjorn Baker Racing, S & J Gosling, and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA).

“Sword Of State has provided some fantastic results for his supporters this year,” Calder said.

“Many of the best trainers and agents have put their faith in his progeny, which bodes very well for his future.

“If he wasn’t on anyone's radar before January. He certainly is now. He’s now got the attention and he has got the results at the sales that you would be more accustomed getting from a stallion that stands at a much higher stud fee.

“He’s an upgrader, and leaves a reliable, consistent type. Very typical of the sireline.”

Chaldean: The dual Group 1-winning son of Frankel

The multiple Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB) returns for his second New Zealand season at the same NZ$35,000 plus GST fee. A standout juvenile, Chaldean (GB) was a five-time winner, with two of them coming at Group 1 level in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes and the G1 2000 Guineas.

He was also successful at Group 2 and Group 3 level as a juvenile over 1400 metres, and backed up his Guineas win with a brave second behind Paddington (GB) in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes.

Chaldean is a half-sibling to three other stakes winners and comes from a European family littered with black type.

“He will only have a small offering of bookings this year, last year he could have served more than 120 if he didn’t have a limit.

“He has been very well-received and has all the credentials being a dual Group 1-winning son of Frankel,” Calder said.

“He covered an outstanding book of mares in his first season — 59 per cent were either black type performers or producers.”

"Group 1 winner Probabeel was among the elite mares covered, along with the dams of top-flight winners Asterix, Ceolwulf, El Castello, Pinarello and Signify.

“We feel that his 2-year-old record, in particular, is well suited to this part of the world. He remains Frankel’s best 2-year-old son and won the Champagne Stakes/Dewhurst double at two — just like Too Darn Hot.”

Almanzor provides proven value

Almanzor (Fr) continues to deliver both on the track and in the sales ring. He covered 145 mares in 2024 and will stand again at NZ$30,000 plus GST this year.

This season he’s been represented by Group 2 Auckland Cup winner Trav (NZ) and fellow stakes winners Rise At Dawn (NZ), Positivity (NZ), Mehzebeen (NZ) and Keeneland (NZ).

“Almanzor’s progeny have become a regular feature on the biggest race days across Australia and New Zealand,” Calder said.

"He was a well-received proven sire in the New Zealand market last year, he can leave black-type performers, and he is able to get a type that is viewed favourably in the sale ring.”

At Karaka 2025, four fillies by Almanzor sold for more than NZ$300,000, including a $450,000 purchase by Forsman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for a filly out of Santa Catarina (NZ) (Savabeel). He also had a $325,000 filly at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, out of Word Games (Fastnet Rock), secured by Chris Waller Racing, Mulcaster Bloodstock and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.

Hello Youmzain is building momentum

Hello Youmzain (Fr), the leading first season sire in France, has quickly made his presence felt in Australasia. He leads New Zealand’s first season sires by winners and sits second by prizemoney and will remain at NZ$30,000 plus GST.

“Hello Youmzain laid down a marker with his early results in Europe and is trending the same way down here,” Calder said.

“He’s a horse that I am really confident in, and the next 12 months are really going to be the making of him.

“He’s building momentum and we have some lovely stock by him ourselves, and when you talk to trainers they say the same thing.

“He has had several very promising winners, including our filly Remala, who we have high hopes for next season, and he’s had another five trial winners this month alone.”

Worldwide, Hello Youmzain has had 86 runners for 41 winners, including two Group 3 winners and four stakes placegetters. In Australasia, he has five winners from 16 runners.

Embellish is doing the job on the track

Embellish (NZ), the Group 1-winning son of Savabeel, offers incredible value at NZ$5000 plus GST. He’s had a strong season with his first-crop stars Luberon (NZ) and What You Wish For (NZ) adding further stakes wins, while second-crop 3-year-old Hitabell (NZ) claimed the G2 Eight Carat Classic and Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes.

“We have experienced first hand what Embellish is capable of as a sire with his very talented daughter Luberon, who has competed with the best sprinters in the country this year,” Calder said.

“It’s still in a sense, early days for him. He’s doing a really good job, he's only had 70 odd runners on the track and he already has 4 stakes winners. His results on the track are more than satisfactory. and he is a very good value option.”

“Embellish’s biggest crop are rising 3-year-olds so we expect to see even more from him next season.”

Table: 2025 service fees for Cambridge Stud's stallion roster