Waikato Stud to Stand Written Tycoon's Banquo

Media Release - Monday August 30

Waikato Stud is excited to be offering the first son of Champion sire Written Tycoon to stand at stud in New Zealand, with Banquo joining the 2021 stallion lineup. 

An impressive type, Banquo earned his place on the roster after several quality wins over sprint distances. He broke his maiden in his fourth start before backing up 12 days later to win the 2019 Listed Springtime Stakes at Flemington over 1400m on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Banquo - image Racing Photos

Banquo was beaten by only .2 of a length in the superb sprint, the G2 Autumn Stakes, a race won by Group 1 winner Microphone, and previously by speed sires Centaine, Canny Lad and Dash for Cash. He then proved he could foot it with the fastest, beating home elite sprinters Exceedance, Tofane and Libertini when finishing close up in an illustrious running of the G1 Newmarket H., where the field had collectively won 11 Group 1 races.

Advertisement

“Banquo is an incredibly good-looking horse and he was very talented,” said trainer Danny O’Brien.

“He won a stakes race at his third run as a 3-year-old and raced very well for us the following spring, just beaten in a Group 2 race at Flemington as a 4-year-old. He’s a genuine group-class sprinter that unfortunately we didn’t get to see at his best.”

Banquo is a stunning individual - image Brett Holburt /  Racing Photos

A $600,000 yearling purchase by top judge Bruce Perry, Banquo is by Written Tycoon, Australia’s current Champion sire and brilliant sire of juveniles. Written Tycoon is developing a strong reputation as an emerging sire of sires, with his Golden Slipper-winning son Capitalist now arguably the most exciting young stallion in the Hunter Valley.

Banquo is a brother to G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Booker. Dam Noondie was a winner over 1200m and is by Flying Spur, successful broodmare sire of Champion stallion Sebring and young Group 1 winning stallions Pierata and Preferment.

“Banquo made a statement as soon as he walked out as a yearling. He had presence and quality,” recalled Bruce Perry. “He was a very athletic and good moving yearling.”

One of only five new stallions to stand in New Zealand this season, Banquo is the only colonial-bred option. With Written Tycoon, I Am Invincible, Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel rounding out the top four sires in Australia in 2021, and Savabeel and Fastnet Rock securing the quinella in New Zealand, Australasian-bred sires are continually proving to be most reliable source of quality. In fact, a foreign-bred stallion has not won the major premiership in New Zealand since 2010 or in Australia since 2015.

“Waikato Stud has an incredible history of success and for Mark to take him on shows the belief he has in Banquo,” said Perry.

“It’s pretty special for Banquo and his owners, as we know he will get every opportunity. Waikato Stud don’t get it wrong very often with their stallion selections.”

Banquo will stand for $4000 + GST for his first season; the same fee Centaine was launched.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Hawaii Five Oh - Exciting Addition for Vinery Stud
Vinery Stud have announced that the royally bred Hawaii Five Oh, a stallion with an uncanny likeness and profile to his illustrious sire I Am Invincible, will join their stallion roster for the 2024 breeding season.
Newgate Announce 2024 Roster and Fees
Newgate Farm have announced their 2024 roster and fees headlined by three first season horses in top class Group One winning colts, Ozzmosis and Militarize along the highly rated Group Two winner King’s Gambit.
Mo’Unga Retires to Newhaven Park in 2024
Newhaven Park is thrilled to unveil its stallion roster for 2024, showcasing a trio of both proven and promising young sires.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.