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South Island-based first season sire Ghibellines was represented by his first winner at Wingatui on December 14.

The John and Karen Parsons-trained El Gladiador showed good speed over 820 metres to hold off some strong late finishers.

The gelding was bred by Karen Parsons and is the fourth runner for Ghibellines, a G2 winner of the Todman Stakes as a 2YO for Godolphin before he was retired to stand at White Robe Lodge.

The son of Shamardal was also placed in the Listed Canonbury Stakes as a 2YO and the G2 Danehill Stakes at three.

His dam Camarilla (Elusive Quality) won the G1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes and also is the dam of four-time G1 winner Guelph (Exceed And Excel) and the G3 winner Encryption (Lonhro).

Camarilla is a daughter of Danehill’s G1 Queensland Derby winner Camarena and is related to the Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Sepoy (Elusive Quality).

El Gladiador is the sixth foal of Querella, a four-time winner by Haafiz. She is also the dam of the stakes placed Querer (Captain Rio).

Ghibellines stands at White Robe Lodge on a fee of $5,000.