Well-credentialled shuttlers spearhead Windsor Park’s stallion roster
Windsor Park Stud has announced a six-stallion roster for 2026 headed by well-bred and performed European sires Auguste Rodin and Paddington, who will both return to New Zealand this southern hemisphere breeding season.
Auguste Rodin, a son of Deep Impact, will return for a second season after covering his first book of mares in 2025 at the Schick family owned Windsor Park at a fee of $30,000 (plus GST).
The six-time Group 1 winner won the English Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Turf and Prince of Wales’s Stakes during his racing career.
Paddington, a son of Siyouni, will stand his third southern hemisphere season at the same $30,000 fee.
The four-time Group 1 winner covered full books in his first two seasons in New Zealand.
Shamexpress will stand for $25,000 following a season in which his progeny earned more than $21 million.
His leading performer is Ka Ying Rising, the Hong Kong sprinter who has won 20 consecutive races and could be the world’s best short-course horse.
Other stakes performers for Shamexpress this season include Sterling Express, The Scunner, December, Dusty Road and Tsunami Sam.
Profondo will stand for an unchanged fee of $17,500 after his first yearlings sold for up to $425,000.
The Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact is out of Honesty Prevails, a daughter of Redoute’s Choice.
Circus Maximus will stand for $20,000.
The sire’s first crop has produced New Zealand Derby winner Road To Paris, while Towering Vision and Circus Dancer are also stakes winners.
Circus Maximus has sired eight black-type performers and currently leads New Zealand’s second-season sires table.
Vanbrugh rounds out the roster at a fee of $6,000.
The son of Encosta De Lago is the sire of Group 1 performers Mustang Valley, Wild Night and Single Red.
Turn Me Loose was not named on this year’s roster.
2026 Windsor Park stallion roster
Paddington $30,000 ($35,000)
Auguste Rodin $30,000 ($30,000)
Shamexpress $25,000 ($20,000)
Circus Maximus $20,000 ($17,500)
Profondo $17,500 ($17,500)
Vanbrugh $6000 ($7500)
