First NZ Winner for War Decree - Half-Sister in K1

Media Release - Saturday March 5

Two-year-old debutant Turf War showed plenty of courage as he held off all challenges to register the first victory for his sire War Decree when taking out the opening event at Wingatui on Saturday.

Turf War has credited his sire War Decree with his first New Zealand winner after a decisive victory at Wingatui Photo Credit: Tayler Strong

Bred and raced by Gus Wigley and his wife Bianca under their Inglewood Stud banner, Turf War is from the first crop of Gr.2 Goodwood Vintage Stakes (1400m) winner War Decree, their current resident stallion who is a son of internationally acclaimed stallion War Front.

Prepared by Wigley’s father Nick in partnership with Kayla Milnes, Turf War went into the race off the back of an educational trial over 800m at Ashburton last month, before trekking south from his Rangiora base to make his debut.

Away cleanly from a midfield barrier for rider Tina Comignaghi, who replaced Jacob Lowry when he failed to make the gelding’s 57kg handicap, Turf War settled nicely in the trail before angling off the fence to challenge at the 300m.

Advertisement

Tackled by race favourite Defiant at the 150m, Turf War found plenty as he held a half-length margin to the finish line to claim the victory.

“That’s a big thrill and nice to breed the first winner by War Decree and have it in our colours,” Gus Wigley said.

“We got a real buzz out of that and it is nice timing just before the yearling sales.

“He is a horse we think a lot of but thought it might be a bit soon for him as we think he could grow into a nice horse in the spring, a real Guineas type of horse.”

Wigley is currently on site at the Karaka sales complex preparing for the 2022 edition of the National Yearling Sale, where Inglewood Stud will offer ten yearlings across the six days of selling including three by War Decree.

“We have a lovely Book 1 colt by War Decree and a couple for the Book 2 sale, while we have a lot of clients with them here as well, with around seventeen by him throughout the sale,” Wigley said.

“He has shown a lot of promise as a sire so far, with three of his first crop running in the placings including one (Val Di Zoldo) with a Group Three second.”

Milnes, who is also on the grounds at Karaka, was delighted with the victory.

“It was a shame I couldn’t be there, but we got to watch it from here (Karaka) on the big screen,” she said.

“He has been a really nice horse to break in and has done everything right.

“We were actually going to put him in the paddock after his trial, but he came through it so well, ate everything and was happy to be in work.

“We will see how he comes through this run, but we might put him in the paddock for a couple of weeks and then have a look at the Champagne Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Riccarton in May.”

Turf War is the first foal of High Chaparral mare Shuffled who is a full sister to Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner Ace High, who now stands at Rich Hill Stud and will have his first crop of yearlings at Karaka this year.

Lot 578

Inglewood Stud will offer a half-sister to Turf War by Lonhro as Lot 578 during the Book 1 sale at Karaka which commences at 11am on Monday March 7. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for WAr Decree

WAr Decree in upcoming sales:
Advertisment
More Reading...
Flightline and Cogburn Shares Highlight Inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale
Stallion shares in Horse of the Year and exciting young sire Flightline and also Widden Stud's new shuttle prospect Cogburn changed hands at the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Before They Were Stars
Spring racing in Australia is in full swing and while many people are studying video with a view to backing winners, others are spending just as much time assessing breeze up footage with a view to finding the next champions to emerge from the NZB Ready to Run Sale, so what does a champion look like?
Darley Announce European Fees 2025
Darley have announced fees on their roster off 22 sires standing in the UK, Ireland and France with Dubawi heading the list at a fee of £350,000 for the third year in a row.
Oaks Pedigree Preview – Who is Bred to Stay?
The $1million Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) is the highlight at Flemington on Thursday and with all of the fillies on trial at the trip, pedigree can be a good indicator and in a field of 14 that features only two stakes-winners and no Group I winners, it could be a year for an upset result.
Live Poem Looking to Continue Snitzel Winning Run
Love Poem’s progress this preparation earned the gifted filly an earlier than anticipated flight to Christchurch to bolster Stephen Marsh’s hand in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Oaks Path Possible for Derryn Filly
An Oaks path is being tipped for three-year-old filly Leica Lucy following her debut win in the Christmas At The Races Friday 5th December (1400m) at New Plymouth on Wednesday.
Melbourne Cup Winner for Extreme Choice – Rare Slice of History
This year’s $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) produced a genuinely amazing fairytale result for the connections of five year-old Extreme Choice gelding Knight’s Choice, but part of that fairytale is his sire Extreme Choice, who has carved out something seriously special as being only the second sire in history to produce the winner of a Golden Slipper and a Melbourne Cup.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for Headwater
With a plethora of racing all over Australia on Cup Day there were opportunities aplenty and Vinery Stud’s value sire Headwater made his mark with a new stakes-winner on Perth at Ascot where three year-old filly London’s Image captured the Listed WATC Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m).
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.