Charyn’s Cambridge chapter begins with some of the stud’s best mares
Cambridge Stud is backing its New Zealand stallion roster with depth at home, while sending select Group 1 mares across the Tasman, with new recruit Charyn attracting some of the farm’s best mares this season.
In today's Matings Mix, Scott Calder, Sales and Nominations at Cambridge Stud, talks TTR through some of the matings for the Cambridge Stud broodmare band and the use of the farm's exciting stallion roster. A handful of top-class mares will cross the Tasman to visit established Australian suitors, while the arrival of triple Group 1 winner Charyn (Ire) adds another dimension to an already strong lineup.
When Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay bought Cambridge Stud in 2018, they would have envisaged and hoped the stud would develop a successful roster of stallions representing a range of established worldwide Group 1 bloodlines. That is where Cambridge Stud now sits.
The exciting French boy to be well patronised
Cambridge Stud welcomes triple Group 1 winner Charyn (Ire), a son of Dark Angel (Ire), to the roster in 2026 in partnership with Nurlan Bizakov’s French operation Sumbe.
A Group 2 winner at two, Group 1-performed at three, Charyn developed into a world-class miler at four, winning the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. His campaign earned him the titles of World Champion Miler and 2024 Cartier Champion Older Horse.
For Cambridge Stud, his arrival provides an opportunity to introduce another international bloodline while supporting him heavily with the farm's own mares.
“It’s always great to have a new horse to come in, and particularly one with his credentials. A big part of bringing a new stallion is gaining the interest of our client base and getting our local breeders motivated,” Calder said.
“We have a big broodmare band, and we support our stallions heavily. There's also the added benefit that we have a new bloodline and a new stallion to support with our own mares as well, and that's certainly a massive part of Brendan and Jo's business model here at Cambridge.”
Physically, Charyn gives the stud flexibility, while his pedigree provides several avenues for the broodmare band.
“He's got good quality, lovely deep girth and plenty of strength. So we didn't feel we had to select too much on type. Pedigree-wise, of those top mares, there's definitely a Danehill flavour, although across the breadth of the mares we're breeding to him, there are a lot of different bloodlines involved outside of Danehill.
“He's got good quality, lovely deep girth and plenty of strength... there's definitely a Danehill flavour, although across the breadth of the mares we're breeding to him, there are a lot of different bloodlines involved outside of Danehill.” - Scott Calder
“I think Sadler's Wells is another one, especially through Tavistock and Montjeu. You can obviously look at what's worked with the likes of Dark Angel and Harry Angel.”
Among the mares heading to Charyn are Letzbeglam (Snitzel), a Group 2 and Group 3-winning sprinter on both sides of the Tasman and a full sister to Listed winner Gatsby’s (Snitzel); Excelida (Exceed And Excel), a Group 2 winner at Flemington and full sister to Group 2 winner Shanwah (Too Darn Hot {GB}); and Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), winner of the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas and a half-sister to four individual stakes winners including the exciting and untapped Drops Of Gold (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}).
“We are sending mares such as Letzbeglam, Excelida, Kahma Lass, they are all not only really good racehorses, but they've got incredibly deep pedigrees behind them.
“Letzbeglam is a Blue Diamond Prelude winner by Snitzel and the Dark Angel cross with Danehill has provided 29 stakes winners by Dark Angel, and his sons out of Danehill-line mares.
“In the case of Excelida, Dark Angel has produced Arkansaw Kid out of an Exceed And Excel mare and she was a Group 2 winner, and her dam is by Iffraaj who has clicked well with Dark Angel.
“These mares have also been set up nicely with some good proven stallions in their first few breedings as well. So we also felt it was a good time to go to a first-year horse.”
Romantic Time and Word Games, both by Fastnet Rock will also give Charyn access to proven producers.
“We were also keen to expose him to some well-performed proven mares with the likes of Romantic Time and Word Games, who have both already left Group 1-performers and are by Fastnet Rock.”