Lot 170 Almanzor (FR) – Shanzam (AUS), Bay Filly

Lot 170 b. f. Almanzor – Shanzam (High Chaparral) $150,000 (draft: Woburn Farm)

From the first crop of Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor (Wootton Bassett), David Ellis purchased Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winner Dynastic as a yearling at Karaka, while at the other end of the spectrum Te Akau trained his daughter Mehzebeen to win the Metropolitan Trophy (Listed, 2600m) / New Zealand Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) double during the recently completed Cup Week Carnival at Riccarton.

A sire of notably athletic individuals and natural racehorses, Almanzor has sired Group One winner Circle Of Fire and Manzoice, and progeny to win 450 races from only four racing crops.

The filly is a sister to classy performer and dual winner Mary Shan, who finished runner-up in both the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) and Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) last season as a three-year-old.

The dam, Shanzam, is by sensational sire and sire of sires High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells), and left three individual winners of 11 races.

“We have always been impressed by the progeny of Almanzor and have had plenty of success with them in the stable,” Ellis said.

“The dam has already done the job as a broodmare, leaving three winners from three runners including the sister Mary Shan, who has plenty of quality and class about her.

“It’s a very good dam line, with the grand-dam, Shanzero (Danzero), winning four races, including a Group Three, and she was Group One placed in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).”

Adrian Stanley, who prepared her for sale at Woburn Farm said: “She’s a lovely filly, good strong shoulder, deep girth, and a bit sharper than a lot of Almanzor horses when it comes to precocity.

“She should go early enough, like Dynastic who won for Te Akau as a two-year-old, but she has a bit of breeding to get over a trip as well.

“I think she was well bought by David (Ellis) at the price and there is plenty of residual value in the family when it comes to breeding.” 

Pricing of shares includes sale expenses, pedigree analysis and research at cost, and full veterinary and x-ray examinations. Insurance additional.