It’s quality over quantity for Mapperley Stud’s stallion roster this coming breeding season, with the Matamata farm offering two stallions to breeders.

Resident stallion Armory will be standing his fourth season at stud in 2025, and he has been heavily supported by New Zealand breeders since his arrival, covering 350 mares across his first three seasons.

“Breeders were attracted to his elite Group One form as a two-year-old, where he won the Gr.2 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Tyros Stakes (1400m), before placing in three Group One contests, including a second to Champion two-year-old Pinatubo,” Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison said.

“Breeders also like to see horses train on and that’s exactly what he did – his run in the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m) as a three-year-old was enormous and proved he was among the elite middle-distance horses in Australasia.

“He continued to prove himself at the highest level against the best weight-for-age horses in the world.”

On the back of his gallant second in the Cox Plate, Armory was crowned Champion three-year-old in Ireland and Europe and achieved a timeform rating of 122 in his classic season. His performances at Group One level as a four-year-old earned him the Champion Older Horse in Ireland title.

“We have been thrilled with the level of support shown by New Zealand breeders, he’s got great numbers on the ground, and it was really encouraging to see that his first crop have found good homes,” Davison said.

Armory will stand for a fee of $10,000+GST.

Mapperley Stud’s roster also includes Profondo, a Group One-winning son of Deep Impact, who stands at Windsor Park Stud for a fee of $17,500+GST.

Profondo was a stand-out individual from the start, topping the Magic Million yearling sale when he sold for A$1.9 million. A brilliant debut winner over 1400m, he reached racing’s elite-level when winning the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at only his third career start.

He has made a brilliant start to his stallion career, covering full books in his first two seasons at stud

“Profondo was an instant hit with breeders, and his popularity continued into his second season where he covered another fantastic book of mares,” Davison said. “We absolutely love his foals. You can see why breeders were eager to breed to him again last season, and we very much expect the same to happen again this year.

“We are very excited about his future, he has it all ahead of him. He’s the full package – outstanding physical, by the world conquering Deep Impact and an elite Group One win next to his name.”