Big Week Contributes to Mapperley Stud's Joy

Within the space of just four days, a huge black-type double by progeny of their emerging stallion Contributer (High Chaparral-Serisia, by Exit To Nowhere) has rewarded years of hard work for Simms Davison and the Mapperley Stud team. The Matamata nursery has had its ups and downs since entering the stallion business almost a decade ago, including the untimely loss of the highly promising young stallion Atlante (Fastnet Rock-Readyforcatherine, by More Than Ready) – sire of 25 winners from just two crops, with three stakes winners including Group 1 hero Callsign Mav. Last week made it all worthwhile as Contributer’s first-crop daughter Llanacord (ex L’Accord, by Golan) delivered his first black-type win in Wednesday’s Gr2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings, then Lion’s Roar (ex Minnaleo, by Black Minnaloushe) went one better with a powerful finish to triumph in Saturday’s Gr1 Randwick Guineas (1600m). Winner of the Gr1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Gr1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in the all-blue colours of Godolphin, Contributer is now the sire of 14 winners from 38 runners, with two stakes-winners and another three stakes placegetters. It says much about his potential that Contributer has produced under 40 foals in each of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. Despite Darley retaining 50% of the ownership, Davison confirmed that Contributer’s future lies on the New Zealand side of the Tasman. “He’s permanently in New Zealand,” he said. “When we got the deal done with Darley, part of the agreement was that he would remain over here. The only way he could possibly go over to Australia is through a sale, so Darley would have to buy us out for that to happen.”

Contributer has transferred his track prowess to the breeding barn (pic: supplied)