Embellish to Stand at Cambridge Stud

David writes:

It is a very proud day for us and the owners of our Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas' winning colt Embellish.

We are excited to announce this wonderful news today, in co-operation with Brendan and Jo Lindsay who assume ownership of the world-famous Cambridge Stud in April this year.

Brendan and Jo have purchased a 50% share in our striking colt Embellish and will race him in partnership with his current owners.  Once his racing career is concluded, he will commence stud duties at Cambridge Stud - the very first Group 1 winning son of Savabeel to stand at stud.

As you know, each year I put together a breeding syndicate, usually with the four very best colts that I identify from the sale - the aim of this is to develop future stallions - horses that achieve at the highest level on the racetrack and then go on to stand at stud.

Te Akau has been very successful in this endeavour, thanks to the massive support of our brilliant owners who are as passionate in this quest as we are.

Embellish will join the list of colts purchased by me and trained by Te Akau that have performed at the highest level on the track and now are successfully standing at stud e.g. Darci Brahma, Rock 'n' Pop, Burgundy and Xtravagant - with the likes of Group 1 winner Heroic Valour, Group 1 performer Age of Fire and stakes' winner Al Hasa, all waiting in the "future stallion" wings.

Embellish will have his next start in the $1 million Karaka Mile in two and a half weeks' time - go the tangerine!

Enjoy the media release - the picture below is from Karaka when he was first purchased by David Ellis:

EMBELLISH TO STAND AT CAMBRIDGE STUD

Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas' winning colt Embellish will join the iconic Cambridge Stud roster upon the conclusion of his racing career.

Te Akau principal David Ellis today confirmed that the striking son of Savabeel has been secured for future duties by Cambridge Stud, with Brendan and Jo Lindsay purchasing a 50% ownership share.  Embellish will be raced in partnership with his current ownership before commencing stud duties.  He will play a pivotal role in Cambridge Stud's landscape being established by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who assume ownership of the historic farm in April. 

Owned by the Te Akau 2016 Breeding Syndicate, Embellish was purchased by David Ellis for $775,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale. Out of Bling, a sister to the dam of dual Group One sprint winner Sacred Star, he is a full brother to Group 1 winner Diademe.

“He is a magnificent colt and was an absolute stand-out from the day I first set eyes on him during my pre-Karaka inspections that year.  I was determined to buy him and at the time he was the highest priced lot ever sold by Waikato Stud.  That's no surprise as he was a magnificent individual that I could see evolving into a top class race horse, and he certainly has,” David Ellis said.

The winner of three of his five starts to date, with stakes' earnings of $318,310, Embellish “was purchased with the sole aim of developing a Group 1 winning son of Savabeel to stand at stud in New Zealand and he absolutely has the right credentials to be the first.  He is an exciting racehorse and is one of the best colts that Te Akau has ever trained,” Ellis continued.

“It's so important to keep quality horses like Embellish in New Zealand for people to see them perform at the highest level on the racetrack and then to have them stand at stud.  This is something that I have been committed to in recent years and we are proud to see two stallions standing at Cambridge Stud (Burgundy the other) that I have purchased and that Te Akau has trained.”

“It is exciting to have this joint venture with Brendan and Jo Lindsay who are already making a massive contribution to our industry and will continue to do so in the years ahead through their ownership of Cambridge Stud.”

Embellish has his next start in the $1 million Karaka 3YO Mile at Ellerslie on 27 January, for which he is currently the favourite.