Ghibellines to join WRL Stallion roster

A lengthy search for the ideal addition to the White Robe Lodge stallion roster has ended successfully.

The leading South Island farm's patience has been rewarded with their dream signing of the well-related Group Two winner Ghibellines.

The rising four-year-old is a lightly-raced son of the international Group One winner and producer Shamardal, sire of the Hong Kong champion Able Friend, in a deal brokered by the respected Auckland bloodstock agent Michael Otto.

"We've been looking for a horse like this for a long time," studmaster Wayne Stewart said.

"He was secured for us by Michael, who also got Yamanin Vital for the stud many years ago.

"Ghibellines is a magnificent looking type out of one of Australia's best families and he's got the race record as well."

His dam is the Gr.1 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Camarilla, a daughter of Elusive Quality, who has a perfect record at stud with all four of her foals to race have having been successful.

Ghibellines is a half-brother to the crack filly Guelph, the Group One winner of the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Flight Stakes and the 1000 Guineas, and the winners Dazzler and Inner Circle, also a Group performer.

Out of the Gr.1 Queensland Derby winner Camarena, Camarilla is a sister to the Listed Geelong Classic winner and Gr.1 VRC Derby runner-up Induna and a blood sister to the former champion two and three-year-old colt Sepoy.

He has made a sensational start to his stud career and created history at this year's Sydney Easter Sale when his colt sold for $A1.6 million, a record price for a yearling by a first season sire sold at public auction in Australia.

Also featuring in the family is the Gr.1 Golden Slipper winner and influential stallion Canny Lad.

"Ghibellines has got a fantastic pedigree and it's a great opportunity for breeders to access a horse of his standing," Stewart said.

Lightly-tried with only eight starts, Ghibelline's career best performance came in the Gr.2 Todman Slipper Trial in which he defeated the Magic Millions Classic winner Unencumbered.

He was also placed at Listed level in the Canonbury Stakes and the Breeders' Plate from Peter Snowden's stable before he finished third in the Gr.2 Danehill Stakes after joining John O'Shea. 

Ghibellines will stand at an introductory fee in 2015 of $5000 + GST at the Anderton family's successful Mosgiel operation alongside Gallant Guru and Raise The Flag.- NZ Racing Desk.