Wyndspelle to Grangewilliam Stud

Son of Iffraaj to stand first season for NZ$7,500.

Wyndspelle. Picture: Race Images.

Group 1 winner Wyndspelle (Iffraaj) will take up stud duties at Grangewilliam Stud in South Taranaki this spring where he will stand for an introductory fee of NZ$7,500 (plus GST). 

Trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard through the latter half of his career, Wyndspelle ran consistently well at a high level and retired the winner of four of his 40 starts, which saw him accrue $659,146 in career prize-money.

The son of former Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj (Zafonic) claimed a deserved Group 1 victory when winning the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at his penultimate start and he bowed out with a narrow second placing in the Thorndon Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) in January.

Racing at the highest level from age two through six, Wyndspelle was Group 1-placed on seven occasions, including a third placing in the Cantala Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) in 2017. 

Runner-up in the Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at two, Wyndspelle won the Waikato Guineas (Gr 2, 2000m) as a three-year-old. 

Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran said he was delighted to be able to welcome Wyndspelle on the roster for the 2020 season. 

"I'm rapt to have the chance to stand him," Corcoran said.

"He was a high-class racehorse and obviously very sound as evidenced by his racing longevity.

"He was Group 1 performed in Australia as well so that was a big tick and he was probably a bit unlucky to come up against Melody Belle a few times, he raced against some top-class horses and performed really well.

"I loved the way he finished off his races, he always fought on to the end. He was a real fighter.

"He is a good looking horse, a nice bay and 15.3 hands," he said.

"He is by Iffraaj who has been a great sire here and has been champion sire of two and three-year-olds.

"He is out of a High Chaparral mare and an out-cross to Danehill, so that appeals. He will suit our mares very nicely."

Wyndspelle is out of four-time winner Western Star (High Chaparral), making him a half-brother Group 3-placed Selica (Makfi). 

Western Star herself is out of Group 2 winner Alberton Star (Stylish Century), making her a half-sister to Group 3 winner Lady Alberton (Golan) and Listed scorer Alberton Park (Thorn Park). 

Further back this is the family of Group 1 winner Brutal (O'Reilly) and Group 2 winners Sir Alberton (Red Tempo) and Te Akau Rose (Thorn Park).


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