Embellish to Stand at Cambridge Stud

Embellish (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}–Bling {NZ}, by O'Reilly {NZ}) will stand at Cambridge Stud upon the completion of his racing career, Te Akau Racing announced on Wednesday morning. Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who will be taking over the reins at Cambridge Stud from Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan in April, purchased a 50% ownership share of the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas hero. He will be raced in partnership with his current ownership in the meantime and is currently favoured for the NZ$1-million Karaka 3YO Mile at Ellerslie on Jan. 27.

“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,” said Ellis. “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 racehorse, and he certainly has.”

Bred by Waikato Stud Ltd., Embellish was snapped up by Te Akau principal David Ellis for NZ$775,000 out of the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale for the Te Akau 2016 Breeding Syndicate. He is also a full-brother to Kiwi Group 1 heroine Diademe (NZ) and Australian SP Deadly Shadow (NZ), as well as a half to Roop All (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), who was also SP in Oz. Under the second dam is the champion New Zealand sprinter Sacred Star (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}). The brown colt, second at first asking at Ellerslie last April, won his next three starts, highlighted by the Nov. 11 NZ 2000 Guineas and has already earned $220,698, with a last out fourth in a 1400-metre 3-year-old open race performance behind fellow Te Akau runner Age of Fire (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Eventually Embellish will join former Te Akau colourbearer Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) at the historic nursery.

Added Ellis, “He 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. 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.”