Sourcing stallion material is a challenge for New Zealand thoroughbred studs across the board, however that hasn’t stood in the way of White Robe Lodge securing their latest addition to a long line of high achievers.
In all respects Ancient Spirit meets the standard for the historic Otago nursery and its clientele. As a member of the pre-potent sire-line tracing to Danzig through Invincible Spirit and Green Desert, he’s fit for purpose in the New Zealand environment.
On the bottom half of his pedigree his first two dams are by breed-shaping European stallions Galileo and Monsun, combined with a distaff line that includes an Oaks-winning second dam and close relationship to elite international performers.
On the track German-bred Ancient Spirit measured up to his bloodlines by becoming the champion three-year-old miler in his own country before taking that form to Ireland. Just as importantly, his conformation matches his bloodlines and performance, making him the complete package to take up duties at White Robe this spring.
“Sourcing these types of horses is never easy, so I’d have to say we’re very happy to secure a horse of Ancient Spirit’s quality,” says White Robe stud manager Wayne Stewart. “He’s by a great sire and sire of sires, with others like Galileo and Monsun close up in his pedigree.
“We’ve done our homework and all the evidence tells us he’s a good looking horse with everything in the right place. The racetrack performance is there as well, so all in all he’s an exciting prospect to get our hands on.
“The hard thing for a stud like ours is fitting our budget and getting best value for the money, not just for ourselves but our clients as well. For a while now we’ve been looking for another stallion with good European bloodlines and we truly believe we’ve struck it lucky with this bloke.”
Invincible Spirit is regarded as one of the most significant European stallions of the past decade, both as a sire of class performers as well as his ongoing influence as the sire of the likes of Kingman, Lawman, Shalaa and Australia’s most expensive stallion, I Am Invincible.
His list of 132 stakes winners, headed by 20 individual Group One winners, includes Ancient Spirit, who was a dual Group Two winner in Germany before continuing his career in Ireland, where he again excelled at 1600m with Listed wins at The Curragh and Navan.
“When he won the German Guineas he broke 1:35 for the mile, which is pretty good time anywhere,” added Stewart. “Then after he went to Ireland he measured up also; my understanding is that it takes a good horse to win at black-type level at The Curragh.
“I wasn’t that familiar with German breeding and racing until our son Jack, who spent time in Europe playing rugby and then worked at Juddmonte before returning to join us back here, came up with Ancient Spirit as a likely prospect.
“We have a bit to do with (Australian bloodstock agent) John Foote, who has a good handle on racing throughout the world and he assured me that if anything, it was a plus that he’s German-bred. They set their breed standard high as far as conformation and the like is concerned, so that’s actually very reassuring.”
Ancient Spirit’s dam Assisi was a dual middle-distance winner and the dam also of Alson, whose five wins include the Gr. 1 Longchamp Criterium International. Second dam Amarette won the German Oaks and is a three-quarter-sister to Almandin, a big winner in Europe before racing in Australia, where he won the Melbourne Cup under handicap conditions and the Tancred Stakes (BMW) at weight-for-age in Sydney.
“His pedigree is a lovely blend of speed on the top line along with that stamina on his dam-side, and that’s reflected in his own performance” says Stewart. “For a long time we’ve prided ourselves at White Robe for producing horses that win at a wide range of distances right up to the staying trips, and we believe we’ve found the stallion with the credentials to leave those classic-guineas type of horses.
“He’s a great fit for the South Island breeders who have been our mainstay over the years, and in the time since we announced that we’ve purchased him, it’s been very pleasing to see the level of interest in him.”
Ancient Spirit will stand at a fee of $7,000, senior associates Raise The Flag and Gallant Guru will stand for $6,000 and $2,000 respectively, and completing the White Robe roster, Ghibellines will stand at $5,000. All fees are plus GST.
