Leading thoroughbred breeding nurseries Windsor Park Stud and Mapperley Stud have joined forces once again to secure the services of regally-bred Group One winner Profondo for stud duties.
Raced by Ottavio Galletta, the striking son of champion sire Deep Impact was prepared by Sydney trainer Richard Litt.
He burst onto the scene when winning at Randwick in September of his three-year-old season, and a fortnight later was narrowly beaten in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) by Head Of State, with Group One galloper Benaud in third.
Profondo’s crowning glory came in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at his third start, cruising to victory with the vanquished headed by Group One winning filly Never Been Kissed.
Other notable performances in an 11-start career included a fourth placing in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) won by Anamoe, while he also chased home the champion galloper when third in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at the beginning of his four-year-old season, beaten less than two lengths.
A show-stopper from the outset, Profondo was an $1.9 million sale-topping yearling.
He is the first foal out of the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) winner Honesty Prevails, a daughter of Redoute’s Choice, who went on to run fifth in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
His half-brother by Shalaa, purchased by James Harron for $1.15 million and named Custodian, finished third in this season’s Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Profondo has already arrived at Windsor Park Stud and will take up covering duties later this year, with a service fee yet to be announced.
“Windsor Park is really excited to be joining with Mapperley Stud again in a brilliant stallion prospect who is a strikingly handsome individual with a race record and pedigree to match,” Windsor Park principal Rodney Schick said.
“He was a sales-topping yearling and from a fantastic family, but few tick all boxes and end up being Group One winners as well.”
The Spring Champion Stakes has been an important stallion-making race with winners including Champion Sire Savabeel as well as Dundeel, while Windsor Park Stud stallion Vanbrugh was a good winner of the race in 2015 and has made a strong start to his stud career headed by Group One winner Mustang Valley and Group Two winner Wild Night this season.
“We certainly look for that turn of foot that he has when we’re sourcing stallions,” Schick said.
“The Spring Champion Stakes is really shaping up to be a good stallion-making race with Savabeel and Dundeel having won it in recent years, while Proisir, who is doing an amazing job at stud, finished second.
“We’ve got Vanbrugh, who won the race and he’s shaping up as a good stallion. He’s just had his first Group One winner and a Group Two winner this year.”
Profondo will stand on the Windsor Park roster alongside young stallions Circus Maximus, Turn Me Loose, Vanbrugh and Shamexpress.
Last year Windsor Park Stud and Mapperley Stud joined forces to acquire Armory a Group One performed son of Galileo who stands at Mapperley.
“I have followed Profondo since his debut win and my regard for him has only increased,” said Mapperley Stud General Manager Simms Davison.
“Recently I contacted leading agent Andy Williams to approach Profondo’s connections and we started negotiations from there.
“He has everything you could want in a stallion prospect and I’m proud to be associated with Rod and Windsor Park in another exciting stallion venture together.”
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