Hot spring form for Almanzor

Cambridge Stud’s headline act Almanzor has found a rich vein of form as feature spring racing has roared to life on both sides of the Tasman.
Since September 1, Arion Pedigrees statistics credit the outstanding shuttle stallion with 10 winners in New Zealand and four in Australia.
Imported stayer Athabascan has delivered back-to-back stakes wins in Australia in the Listed City Tattersalls Cup and Gr. 3 Colin Stephen Quality, backed up by several impressive up-and-comers in both countries.
Almanzor’s New Zealand progeny this spring include the exciting Adam I Am, who was a five-length maiden winner at Matamata on September 20 and delivered another impressive performance at Hastings on Saturday.
Geriatrix and Mary Shan have put themselves right in contention for next month’s Group One Riccarton classics with stylish recent wins, while last-start winner To Be Frank will test his Victoria Derby credentials in this Saturday’s Gr. 3 Neds Classic at Caulfield.
“Almanzor is really building momentum as the spring goes on,” Cambridge Stud’s head of sales and nominations Scott Calder said. “He’s had plenty of winners in recent weeks, but more importantly, they’ve been winners with a lot of upside who look like they could be on their way to bigger and better things.
“Adam I Am is a very exciting horse. His reputation preceded him a little bit, being a very short-priced favourite for those races, but it’s exciting to think what the future might hold for him.
“What he’s doing now fills you with confidence that stepping up over longer distances, and with a bit more maturity under his belt, he could be even better.
“Almanzor’s three-year-olds are showing real promise again as well. You look at his record in Derby and Oaks races last year, and it certainly seems that this season might be going to bring more of the same. You know that they’re likely to thrive once they get up over more ground.”
Almanzor is again standing for a service fee of $50,000, having covered books ranging in size from 160 to 136 since taking up duties at Cambridge in 2018.
“He’s got another good book,” Calder said. “Stallions often have a lull, particularly in year three or four, but we’ve been very lucky that he’s been strongly supported right through.
“His three-year-old crop now is actually his biggest yet – he served 160 mares that year – so he’s represented with good numbers.
“His foals hitting the ground now were conceived in his first year at $50,000. Probabeel and Amarelinha are the names that jump off the page, but it was the best book of mares he’s bred so far, so it’s all very encouraging for his future.”