Thorn Park has won the coveted Grosvenor Award for New Zealand’s Champion sire in 2010-11.

He became the first stallion to break through the $3 million barrier in progeny earnings in New Zealand in a single season.  Runner-up was Pins (Snippets) ahead of Keeper (Danehill) and Pentire (Be My Guest).

Thorn Park wrested the title from fellow Windsor Park Stud sire Volksraad (Green Desert) who has won the Grosvenor Award 8 times.

His headline acts include Champion 3YO Jimmy Choux who won the NZ Derby and NZ 2000 Guineas together with the Rosehill Guineas in Australia.

Thorn Park (Spinning World) also sired the Group 1 gallopers Veyron (Easter Hcp) and The Party Stand (New Zealand Stakes).  He was the only stallion to sire three individual Group 1 winners in Australasia this season.

”He’s a very easy horse to have around,” Windsor Park’s Rodney Schick said.  ‘He’s a cheeky bugger but a great breeder and is just an easy horse to manage.”

Windsor Park purchased Thorn Park before he won the G1 Stradbroke Hcp.  “It was incredible boost even though we believed he already had enough appeal to stand at stud,” Schick claimed.  “He had a huge turn of foot and could reel off some great sectionals.  He’s a magnificent looking horse, too.”

Thorn Park’s service fee for 2011 has risen to $20,000 (plus gst).

Windsor Park was also the New Zealand base for High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) who narrowly claimed the Dewar Award for NZ-bred progeny by NZ & Australian earnings.

Global superstar So You Think was his headline performer winning four Group 1 features before embarking on a European campaign.  Cambridge Stud’s Zabeel (Sir Tristram) finished second ahead of Thorn Park and O’Reilly (Last Tycoon).