Volksraad (5 February 1988 – 28 December 2011) was a British-bred thoroughbred horse who when standing at stud in New Zealand was a champion sire.[1] He dominated the New Zealand sires lists, with six consecutive titles from 2001 to 2007.

Volksraad
SireGreen Desert (USA)
GrandsireDanzig (USA)
DamCeltic Assembly
DamsireSecretariat
SexStallion
Foaled1988
CountryUnited Kingdom
ColourBay
BreederWindsor Park Stud
OwnerWindsor Park Stud
Record3 starts, 2 wins, 1 third
Earnings£20,291
Awards
Champion New Zealand sire (2001–2007)
Last updated on April 2009

Racing and breeding career

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Volksraad was bred by the Darley Stud and his name is allied with an old Afrikaans parliamentary assembly. He was trained by Henry Cecil and won as a two-year-old at Newmarket. He had two starts as a three-year-old, winning at Royal Ascot and then finished third in the Group Two Newmarket Challenge Stakes. A training accident led to his premature retirement.[2]

He was purchased for 21,000 guineas at auction from the 1992 December sales in England by Nelson Schick and Steve Till, Pat Connell and the Davison family and moved to New Zealand. He began his stud career at Mapperley Stud, near Matamata, standing for a $2500 service fee, before transferring to Windsor Park Stud. His service fee peaked at $27,500.[3]

Volksraad was euthanased after fracturing a shoulder in a paddock accident on 28 December 2011. He was 23 years old.[4] [5]

Notable progeny

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His progeny includes:

He is broodmare sire of:

See also

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Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand

References

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  1. ^ "Volksraad (GB) 1988 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  2. ^ "2002 Champion sire Volksraad: Rags to riches > Australia and International Horse Racing news updated daily". www.thoroughbrednews.com.au.
  3. ^ Rodley, Aidan (28 December 2011). "Super stallion Volksraad leaves a legacy". Stuff.
  4. ^ "Racing: Top stallion Volksraad put down after injury". NZ Herald. 19 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Champion stallion dies". Otago Daily Times Online News. 29 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Bahnhof Zoo (NZ) 1994 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  7. ^ "Clifton Prince (NZ) 2001 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  8. ^ "Dezigna (NZ) 1999 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ".
  9. ^ "Willy Smith (NZ) 2001 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  10. ^ "Zola (NZ) 1995 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  11. ^ "Beauty Flash (NZ) 2005 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  12. ^ "Beauty Flash | Race Record & Form | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
  13. ^ "Full Result 7.50 Sha Tin (HK) | 12 December 2010 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
  14. ^ "Full Result 8.35 Sha Tin (HK) | 6 March 2011 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
  15. ^ "[aus] Lights Of Heaven (NZ) 2007 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz.
  16. ^ "Lights of Heaven (NZ) - Race Horse Profile RACING.COM". RACING.COM.