White Robe Lodge delighted to secure exciting stallion Ancient Spirit

Ancient Spirit

White Robe Lodge is thrilled to announce the purchase of their exciting sire prospect Ancient Spirit who will stand at the leading thoroughbred nursery for the first time this spring.

Proprietors Brian and Lorraine Anderton and stud managers Wayne and Karen Stewart are eagerly awaiting the arrival of 2018’s champion three-year-old miler in both Italy and Germany, who will arrive at their North Taieri property in the coming weeks.

By champion sire Invincible Spirit, from Galileo mare Assisi, Ancient Spirit offers both Southern breeders and broodmare owners across New Zealand the chance to access world-class genetics.

Ancient Spirit’s rich pedigree was a big attraction when Brian Anderton was offered the chance to secure his exciting new sire.
The well bred stallion was purchased through Ed Stapleton Bloodstock of Ireland, with Marcus Corban also very instrumental in the transaction. 

“We have been looking for a European miler for five years, but nothing has caught my eye quite like this horse has,” Brian Anderton said.

“We have been patient and I think it has really paid off with being able to purchase a stallion of the quality of Ancient Spirit.”

“He has a wonderful pedigree, being by one of the world’s leading sires and sire of sires in Invincible Spirit out of a mare by another champion in Galileo, you couldn’t ask for better bloodlines.”

“It is really exciting for us to be able to stand a stallion with a pedigree as good as that at White Robe Lodge.”

“We will be backing the horse ourselves with our own mares.  We have got a lot of faith in him and think he will do a wonderful job at stud.”

Ancient Spirit is a half-brother to Alson (by Areion), a Group One winner of the Paris Longchamp Criterium in France.

The freshman sire’s pedigree is filled with Group One and stakes race-winning performers, including Almandin, the winner of the Group One Melbourne Cup and Group One ATC Tancred Stakes in Australia.

Wayne Stewart is just as pleased as Brian Anderton to have secured another top-class stallion for their famed thoroughbred nursery.

“Ancient Spirit is obviously very well-bred, but he was also a very good racehorse,” Stewart said.

“He was Champion 3YO Miler in Germany and Italy as well as being a dual stakes-race winning miler in Ireland and that shows the quality of horse he was on the track.”

“He had a terrific record over a mile.”

“He was a very good horse and very adaptable, which I think will be a big asset for breeders in New Zealand.”

Currently letting down, Ancient Spirit is also a magnificent physical specimen and that was another key factor in White Robe Lodge securing his services ahead of the spring breeding season.

“He is an outstanding individual,” Stewart said.

“He is very correct and he has got a really good, intelligent head.”

“You couldn’t ask for much more from a sire in terms of conformation and looks.”

“Combine that with his pedigree and his race record and he has all the ingredients to be a very successful stallion.”

Ancient Spirit will stand his first season at stud at White Robe Lodge for a service fee of $7000 plus GST. 

For further information or to book mares to Ancient Spirit call Wayne Stewart on 027 498 8037 or visit www.whiterobelodge.co.nz