Ghibellines by super sire Shamardal

Shamardal, the sire of first season White Robe Lodge sire, Ghibellines continues to make his mark as a sire and sires of sires. He is the sire of 16 individual group one winners world-wide, spearheaded by the Hong Kong star Able Friend, who has five gr ones among his 13 wins from 22 starts. Able Friend has amassed $HK57,718,600 ($NZ11,157,582) in stakes in Hong Kong. Tryster (by Shamardal) won gr one Jebel Hatta Stakes (1800m) at Meydan (Dubai) on March 5, 2016.

Delectation, a son of Shamardal, won the $A1 million gr one Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington in November. More recently Bow Creek won the gr two Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

Vezalay, a 4yr-old mare by Shamardal, has won the listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield this season,

Shamardal, foaled in 2002, won six of his seven starts before the son of Giant's Causeway was retired through injury. He won the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, considered the premier event for 2yr-olds. He also won twice at gr one level in France.

Lope de Vega, a gr one winning son of Shamardal, sired 25 individual 2yr-old winners of 34 races in Europe in 2014. They included Belardo (Dewhurst Stakes) and three other gr race winners. Shamardal now stands in Ireland at a fee by private arrangement and Lope de Vega commands a fee of 45,000 euro ($NZ74,000). Ghibellines, winner of the 2014 gr two Todman  Stakes (1200m)  for 2yr-old colts and geldings at  Randwick, represents great value at $NZ5000. The Todman has proved a great source of successful sires with Exceed And Excel, Octagonal, Marauding and Align among the winners.

Gallant Guru was represented at Wyndham on Sunday (13/3/2016) by the winners Gallant Dan and Galella, both bred and trained at White Robe Lodge.  The pair are raced by breeders Brian and Lorraine Anderton. Gallant Dan won the open 1100m and took his stake earnings to $56,250. He has won six races. Galella cleared maiden ranks. She is one of three surviving foals out of Pernella, who died suddenly prior to foaling in the spring. Pernella (Personal Escort - Tawnella) won eight races. Galella is a sister to Grey Guru, who has won five and stakes placed for Wanganui part-owner-trainer Raymond Connors. Gallant Guru sired the quinella in both the Wyndham races with Koxinga and Smokem Up in runner up positions.  The Gallant Guru mares Blue 'N' Gold and Norah have been retired from the White Robe Lodge stable to join the WRL broodmare band. Blue 'N' Gold won seven races and $77,700 with her best win the 2015 Wyndham Cup, an open 2000m. Norah won six races from 1400m to 1600m and $79,625 in stakes.