Busy week for Windsor Park as trio of new sires added to roster

A remarkably busy eight-day period for Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand has seen a trio of Group 1 perfomers - including one Classic winner - confirmed to join its roster.

Turn Me Loose, a five-year-old son of Iffraaj, was trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman to win three times on turf at the highest level, winning the New Zealand 2,000 Guineas at Riccarton Park and the Emirates Stakes Handicap at Flemington over a mile, as well as the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield over 7f.

Turn Me Loose also saw off the John O'Shea-trained Bow Creek - who was previously trained in Europe - to land the Group 2 Crystal Mile.

He is out of Indomitable, a daughter of the breed-shaping sire Danehill, while his granddam Kwan, by Sadler’s Wells, is a half-sister to three Group winners including Fairy Heights, winner of both the Sweet Solera Stakes and the Fillies' Mile at two.

His sire Iffraaj has been responsible for eight Group 1 winners worldwide, including Antipodean Classic scorers Jon Snow and Gingernuts, and Wootton Bassett, the sire of champion Almanzor.

"I loved his outstanding looks and physicality when I first saw him and coupled with his cracking race performance, it just heightened my desire to have him in our stallion line-up," said Rodney Schick, studmaster at Windsor Park.

"To have the speed and class to win a 7f Group 1 race in Australia requires exceptional talent which he had in spades."

Mr Prospector sire line

Turn Me Loose hails from the Mr Prospector sire line, as does another of the stud's new recruits in Rageese.

The four-year-old son of Street Cry was second behind Pride Of Dubai in the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes at two, and at four, beat the previously European-trained Arod by a length to win a Group 3 handicap at Flemington.

Rageese is a direct descendant of champion Australian racemare Emancipation.

Rageese, who continues to race, will now be aimed at the Goodwood Handicap and then the Stradbroke Handicap by trainer Darren Weir, both at Group 1 level.

The late Street Cry has already made a signnificant impact in Australia, having sired champion racemare Winx.

Joining Turn Me Loose and Rageese at stud will be Vanbrugh, winner of the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at three and fourth to the aforementioned Winx in the Group 1 George Main Stakes.

He is by Encosta De Lago, who is also the grandsire, through his son Manhattan Rain, of this year's Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign.

Vanbrugh hails from the Waikato Stud family of Group 1 winners Diademe and Sacred Star.

Turn Me Loose will stand at an initial fee of A$15,000, while an introductory fee for the other two recruits will be announced at a later date.

They will stand alongside 2011 Derby hero Pour Moi and three-time Group 1 scorers Rip Van Winkle and Charm Spirit, who shuttle to Windsor Park for the southern hemisphere breeding season.