Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

At A Glance

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The overall aggregate at the time of writing was NZ$35,107,000, which is a huge increase of 39 per cent on last year (NZ$25,186,000). The 2021 sale, which was held virtually, grossed NZ$20,547,000.

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Across the two days, 383 lots were catalogued, of which 308 were offered and 225 were sold. That saw the clearance rate sit at 73 per cent, which is marginally down on last year (76 per cent), but better than 2021 (66 per cent).

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The average skyrocketed from NZ$129,159 last year to NZ$156,031. In 2021, it was NZ$121,580.

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The median sits at NZ$90,000, which is NZ$10,000 more than the past two years.

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A Star Turn colt, consigned on Thursday by KB Bloodstock as Lot 376, made a sale-record NZ$825,000. He was bought by Hong Kong’s Pato Leung.

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Twelve lots made NZ$500,000 or more.

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Hong Kong-based buyers were responsible for over NZ$16.7 million in spend across 70 lots.

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Australian buyers were also strong, securing 60 lots for a total of NZ$8 million in receipts.

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Domestic buyers made themselves known, with NZ$5.5 million spent across the two days.

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The leading buyer title was secured by Hong Kong-based Yeung Kin Man, who secured 12 lots for a total spend of NZ$2,465,000.

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Vinery Stud’s Star Turn has the sale-topper at NZ$825,000 and barnmate All Too Hard had a gelding make NZ$800,000.

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Riversley Park secured the leading vendor title for the seventh consecutive year, selling 26 lots for NZ$5,335,000.

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Kilgravin Lodge claimed the leading vendor by average title, after 16 2-year-olds sold for an average of NZ$300,781.

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The leading sire by average was Zoustar with three lots selling for an average of NZ$466,667. Super Seth had a very strong sale, with eight lots making a combined NZ$2,295,000 (at an average of NZ$286,875).

Hong Kong buyers splash the cash

After spending NZ$6.55 million on Day 1, participants from Hong Kong were again particularly active on Thursday.

The day’s top-seller made a sale-record NZ$825,000, with Hong Kong-based owner Pato Leung buying the colt.

Consigned by KB Bloodstock as Lot 376, he is by Vinery Stud’s Group 1-producing sire Star Turn from the winning Foxwedge mare Commonwealth, and clocked a slick breeze-up time of 10.24s. Star Turn has had success in Hong Kong with horses such as the Group 3 winner Cordyceps Six and the five-time scorer Astrologer.

The colt was bred by equine veterinarian Dr Ian Duckworth, who co-bred the 2014 G1 Golden Slipper heroine Mossfun (Mossman), among others. Duckworth’s Fairview Stud sold the colt for $120,000 to Solari Bloodstock at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

The colt’s second dam, Our Pride And Joy (Canny Lad), won four races and she is a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Criterion (NZ) and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock).

Leung was represented at Karaka by trainer Benno Yung and his daughter Samantha.

“We’ve looked at a lot of good horses at the sale today (Thursday), and the Star Turn really stood out to us,” Samantha Yung said. “He’s a really nice mover and has a very strong build.

“He has a great temperament from what we’ve seen so far. The amount that we paid may have been a little more than we were expecting, but we feel that he will do well for the owner.

“Star Turn has been doing well in Hong Kong, and that’s another reason why we were interested in buying this horse.

“We do think that he’ll be a powerful sprinter, but with time, he may be able to go further as well.”

KB Bloodstock sold seven 2-year-olds across the two days, netting NZ$1,735,500 in sales. For operator Kit Brooks, the results were beyond his wildest dreams.

“I certainly didn’t expect him to be the sale-topper. They were going for big money. It was a pleasant surprise,” Brooks told The Thoroughbred Report.

“He was popular and I thought he would make good money, but I certainly didn’t think he would go that far.

“The sale was pretty awesome, certainly very strong.”

Table: Top vendors by aggregate at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$

It was KB Bloodstock’s third draft at the NZB Ready to Run Sale, and for Brooks, it was by far the most enjoyable experience.

“We started in COVID times when it was an online sale, then last year was our first time being on the complex, and now here we are,” he said.

“We were really happy, we only had a small draft of eight horses and sold seven of them. Predominantly, they sold very well, so no complaints.”

Brooks, who recently welcomed a baby daughter, admitted he and his team would celebrate the incredible result on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Lot 289 - a gelding by Star Turn’s barnmate All Too Hard - fetched NZ$800,000, with Yeung Kin Man buying him from the Riversley Park consignment. The gelding was a pinhook for Riversley Park and Michael Guerin, who bought him from the Baramul Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $100,000.

The gelding, who breezed in a slick 10.34s, is the fourth foal of the unraced Mossman mare Tuscany Lady and she herself is a half-sister to the stakes performers Metonymy (Hotel Grand) and Love Shack Baby (All Too Hard). Tuscany Lady has produced two winners.

His second dam, Shack (Canny Lad), was also unraced and is a sister to the Group 3 victor Peat Bog, and a half-sister to the Group 2 victress Heather (Grand Lodge {USA}). The winless Irish Hut (Quest For Fame {GB}) is also a half-sister to Shack and she is the dam of the Group 3 winner Beret (Helmet).

He will be trained by Manfred Man.

Speaking on behalf of Yeung, Magus Equine’s Willie Leung said, “Mr Yeung has about 10 horses racing in Hong Kong already and he is a genuine racing fan and would love to have more good horses in Hong Kong. That’s why he wanted to go for some stock here, so we can go through the selection process to find a Group 1 horse.

Table: Top buyers by aggregate at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$

“They will be here for education and training and then we’ll do some assessment. They will probably be ready to go, but some will need to be qualified as a PP for Hong Kong and so we’ll keep them racing here.

“All Too Hard is a very consistent and useful sire in Hong Kong, and the Group 1 winner Wellington has performed really well in Hong Kong and on grass and synthetic and so he suits Hong Kong. This one looks really precocious, and so hopefully we can get him going to Hong Kong early next season.”

Earlier, Equine Investments and Bevan Smith Bloodstock went to NZ$500,000 for Lot 203 - a Zoustar colt, also offered by Riversley Park. Champion jockey-turned trainer Douglas Whyte is also involved in the partnership.

“I have been to Karaka previously, but I haven’t bought here before,” Whyte said. “I haven’t been training for that long, so it’s the first time I’ve stuck my neck out and purchased horses here, but it’s been good.

“This is where it all starts, really. You’ve got to get the young ones to keep the yard ticking over. I’ve got a nice crop of young horses now, who you just have to get them to develop the right way.

“I’ve got a couple of older horses at the moment who are close to the end of their tether. The young ones are what you’re here for, and they’re going to make or break my yard.”

The colt, who registered a breeze-up time of 10.88s, is the fifth foal of the winning Swiss Ace mare Reconstruct (NZ) who has thrown three winners from three to race.

The colt’s grandam, Renovated (King’s Best {USA}), was winless in two starts and she herself is a half-sister to the Group 2 scorer Alma’s Fury (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) and Enforced (Snippets), who triumphed at Group 3 level in Australia before racing in Hong Kong as Championship.

The stakes performer Daneforce (Danzero) and the Listed winners Rokanori (Awesome Rock) and Takanori (Vital Equine {Ire}) also feature prominently on the colt’s page.

Table: Top sires by average at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$

Bevan Smith, owner of Bevan Smith Bloodstock, said, “He was bought for Hong Kong and he really fitted that Hong Kong profile; he’s by a proven stallion, he breezed up super, and we bought him from Riversley Park, who have an outstanding record - they sold Golden Sixty, who’s the best horse in Hong Kong.

“I said to Sam Beatson, ‘Sam, I need to buy the best horse here, which one is it?’, and he pointed me in this direction. When he says that, I listen.

“When he came out of the box, he matched up. Physically, he’s just a beautiful horse. He’s a great walker, everything’s proportionate, he’s a well-balanced horse, so to use the cliche, he ticked all the boxes for us.

“He breezed-up great and when we inspected him here on the grounds he impressed us even more.”

Hong Kong-based Kiwi trainer Jamie Richards was busy on Day 2, spending NZ$1,040,000 on three 2-year-olds.

Richards, in partnership with Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA), went to NZ$450,000 for Lot 341 - an Exceed And Excel colt from the winning Giant’s Causeway (USA) mare Barbadine (USA).

The colt, who recorded a breeze-up time of 11.08s, was a member of the Cheltenham Stables draft.

That duo teamed again to purchase Lot 367 - a Deep Field colt offered by Kilgravin Lodge - for NZ$400,000.

He is out of Centafaith (Keep The Faith) - a two-time winner who has thrown the Listed victress and Group 1 placegetter Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt).

The colt breezed-up in 10.61s.

NZB’s Jones ‘shell-shocked’ after record-breaking sale

Like Brooks, Kane Jones, bloodstock sales manager of New Zealand Bloodstock, was somewhat in a state of disbelief at the conclusion of Day 2.

The 2023 Ready to Run Sale smashed a number of records, including the aggregate, which at the time of writing, reached a staggering NZ$35,107,000, up 39 per cent on last year (NZ$25,870,000).

The average sits at NZ$156,031 and that figure, which may still go up, is significantly higher than 2022 (NZ$129,159) and 2021 (NZ$121,580).

Table: Top vendors by average at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$

Another metric to improve was the median, which climbed to NZ$90,000, after settling at NZ$80,000 the past two years.

“I’m a little bit shell-shocked, to be honest. The whole sale took me by surprise, I guess,” Jones said when speaking to TTR AusNZ.

“We knew we had a strong buying bench, especially from Hong Kong, but the sale has well and truly exceeded our expectations, and we’re just thrilled.

“We’re thrilled for all the vendors, and the buyers have had to really step up to the plate. There’s been some spirited bidding on a number of horses. They’ve come away with some lovely horses.”

Jones said he was confident Day 2 would also deliver strong results, but he admitted he didn’t envisage the Star Turn colt (Lot 376) would fetch NZ$825,000.

“Wednesday was outstanding and the momentum was maintained right throughout Day 2. I didn’t think we would exceed the sale-topper from Day 1, but to have one sell for NZ$825,000 was quite unbelievable. He was a lovely colt and I knew he was very, very popular, but it exceeded my expectations and caught me by surprise,” he explained.

“I’m thrilled for Kit and Bianca, they do a great job at KB Bloodstock out at Cambridge. They’re lovely people and I’m just thrilled for them to have such a good result. To have a result like that really puts them on the map and it’s well-deserved.”

High-priced Deep Field colt headed to Malaysia

The third-most expensive juvenile on Day 2 and fourth-highest of the entire sale was Lot 381 - a Deep Field colt - who realised NZ$750,000.

Consigned by Ohukia Lodge, he was knocked down to Magnolia Bloodstock and is destined for Malaysia. Ohukia Lodge paid $300,000 for the colt at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when offered by Newgate Farm.

He is from the winning I Am Invincible mare Criquette, herself a half-sister to Champion’s Way (Hinchinbrook) - a five-time winner and Champion Griffin in Hong Kong in 2018/19.

The colt produced an impressive breeze-up, stopping the clock at 10.38s.

Ohukia Lodge enjoyed another strong sale. The specialist breeze-up vendor sold 22 horses, grossing NZ$5,133,000 at an average of NZ$233,318.

Proprietor Jamie Beatson was delighted with the results.

“There was a bit of talk heading into the sale that there was going to be a lot of Hong Kong guys here, which proved to be right,” said Beatson.

Table: Top sires by aggregate at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - prices in NZ$

“At that top-end, it was great. There was a little bit missing in the middle, which we knew was coming with Singapore missing, but it made up at the top-end.”

Laming Racing / John White Bloodstock add to haul

On Wednesday, Laming Racing and John White Bloodstock made two purchases, including Lot 116 - the Contributer (Ire) half-brother to the three-time Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse). The Woburn Farm-consigned colt realised NZ$550,000.

And they were at it again on Day 2, going to NZ$700,000 for Lot 298 - a Super Seth filly from the Kilgravin Lodge draft. She was initially bought by Kilgravin Holdings for NZ$85,000 at the 2022 NZB National Weanling Sale, with Curraghmore consigning the filly.

The 2-year-old is the third living foal of winning Makfi (GB) mare Vitesse (NZ) and she herself is a half-sister to the triple Group 1 hero Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and the Group 3 scorer Cheval D’Or (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}). Vitesse’s only foal to race is this year's G1 Queensland Derby hero Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

The filly, who breezed in 10.49s, is also closely related to the multiple Group 1 winner King Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and the Group 3 victor Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}).

“She was a standout on looks,” Richard Laming said. “She was one of my top picks. We valued her up to NZ$600,000 and had to go a little bit more than that, but we’ve got a really nice filly.

“She’s a proper horse. She’s got a nice action, she breezed up great. She has a very good attitude and was nice and relaxed in the ring, so we’re very happy to get her.

“We like Super Seth. We’ve got a couple we bought as yearlings that go good. We came over here to buy another nice one, and she’s got a great pedigree, great residual and she’s an outstanding individual. She breezed up good. She had plenty going for her.

“She’s a half to a Group 1 winner who’s a very good horse, so she’s got that scope to hopefully show some of her brother’s ability.”

Laming Racing and John White Bloodstock also signed for Lot 303 on Thursday - a Reliable Man (GB) filly out of the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Way To Win, who breezed in 11.11s. She was consigned by Westbury Stud.

Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix

Racing traditionalists will be the first to tell you the importance of 1600-metre handicaps, their legacy as an ultimate equaliser felt globally.

Australia has a number of these historic features, races such as the G1 Epsom H. in Sydney and the G1 Toorak H. in Melbourne, but another that has its own rich tapestry is the G1 Railway S. in Perth.

Decorated history

Gaining its name from the railway line from Bayswater Station to Ascot Racecourse, it wasn’t the first 'Railway Stakes' run in Western Australia, with the Swan Turf Club hosting a commemoration of the amalgamation of the Fremantle and Midland rail lines in 1881. Six years later, the inaugural running of the Railway Stakes as we know it today occurred, won by Nimrod (breeding details unknown), who defeated a four-horse field as a 3-year-old.

Restricted until 1895 to Western Australian-bred horses only, the early iterations of the race were dominated by the stallion Two Of Hearts, siring the winner of three consecutive editions from 1890 to 1892; Wandering Willie, Will-O’-The-Wisp and Lord Byron.

Initially run over 2000 metres until 1921 (excluding 1893, where it was run over 1600 metres), the 1896 edition was won by Florrie (War Cry), owned by GA Towton, an early pioneer of racing in Western Australia. He is honoured with the Listed GA Towton Cup, run in December, and features on a plaque on St. George’s Terrace in the Perth CBD, describing him as a, “horse racing pioneer”.

The change to running over 1600 metres coincided with the rise of Jolly Beggar as a prolific Railway S. stallion. One of the most decorated racehorses in Western Australian history, he completed the Karrakatta Plate-WATC Derby-Perth Cup treble, placing him alongside only Eurythmic to lay claim to this accomplishment. His progeny continued his legacy, claiming Railway success in 1923, 1924, 1927 and 1932, via Jolly Handsome, Borgia, Jolly Odd and Jolly Fair.

Not even World War II could stop the Railway from being run, with the 1943 winner Beaufine (Sansofine {GB}) standing out as the most notable winner from the era. Seven years after the war, in 1952, the distance was altered again, this time down to 1500 metres.

Aquanita was victorious in 1959, he would go on to a host of races in Victoria in the early 1960s, including the 1962 WS Cox Plate. His stallion career was severely hampered due to being a non-Stud Book horse, owing to a lack of clarity around the pedigree of his dam, Reinata (Panto).

Talented son of Makarpura (GB), Tudor Mak, won consecutive Railways in 1966 and 1967, the best of his progeny being Listed Challenge S. winner Iron Mak. To date, he is the only horse to win the race in consecutive years.

Champion racehorses Detonator and Asian Beau claimed victory in 1975 and 1979 respectively, before the race shifted back to the 1600-metre start from 1982. Jungle Dawn (Jungle Boy {GB}), grandam to stakes-winner Missile Launch (Smart Missile), won the January 1987 running, which was held over from 1986 due to programming changes.

One of the finest horses on the honour roll, Better Loosen Up was victorious in 1989, while the iconic ‘Fighting Tiger’ Northerly (Serheed {USA}) used the 2000 edition of the race to launch a career that would include two WS Cox Plate victories. His original sparring partner, Old Comrade (Old Spice) would win the year after.

Another Western Australian champion, Luckygray (Bradbury’s Luck), won his first Railway 10 years later in 2011, amongst highly controversial circumstances as a protest for interference at the 600-metre mark, relegated the first horse home, He’s Remarkable (NZ) to second. Luckygray would go on to win a second Railway in 2013, this time carrying top weight.

Modern-day Railway Stakeses have followed the trend of Western Australian racing as a whole throughout the period, being dominated by the cerise and white colours of levithan owner-breeder Bob Peters. He won four in a row from 2018-2021, thanks to Galaxy Star (Redoute’s Choice), Regal Power (Pierro), Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). One of the stories of the racing year came out of the 2022 edition, with veteran trainer Colin Webster securing his first Group 1 in over 40 years, with Trix Of The Trade (Trade Fair {GB}) storming away with the prize under Webster’s former apprentice, Troy Turner.

Legacies

Jolly Beggar rules the roost for the number of winners produced as a stallion with four, edging out Two Of Hearts, who has three. In more recent times, Not A Single Doubt was successful in consecutive years with Good Project in 2015 and Scales Of Justice in 2016.

Only two horses have won the Railway in the 21st century having been bred outside Australia, Inspirational Girl and Western Empire in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Jeune (GB) has two wins since 2018 as a damsire, with Galaxy Star alongside Western Empire, while Old Spice sired the 2001 winner Old Comrade, and was the damsire of 2003 winner Hardrada (Marooned {GB}).

Within the jockey ranks, William Pike stands in isolation with five wins, four of which came in the ‘Peters era’ of the race between 2018 and 2021. He also won (for Peters again) in 2014 aboard talented mare Elite Belle (Canny Lad). Frank Treen, who on Thursday was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame, ranks second with four, with veteran jockey Paul Harvey joined by Jack Marshall and Jimmie Miller on three. Miller’s three came in consecutive years, from 1929 to 1931.

Another benefactor of the recent cerise and white dominance is the training partnership of Grant and Alana Williams, who top the list with four, although Grant is credited with five, having been training in his own name when Elite Belle won in 2014. There are four trainers with three wins each; Bob Burns, Herbert Holmes, Ted McAuliffe and Pat Ward.

Fancied runners dominate

Recent editions have seen the market get the race right more often than not, with a number of horses kept safe on bookmakers’ boards saluting. Trix Of The Trade left his barrier a $5 chance last year, while Western Empire burned around Ascot at $1.60 in 2021, believed to be the shortest-priced winner in the history of the race.

Inspirational Girl was $2.60 when victorious in 2020, with Regal Power starting at $10 in 2019, the highest since 2017, when Great Shot (Magnus) won at $31.

The 2023 edition

Barring any late surprises, a full field of 16 should tackle the 2023 running of the race, with three emergencies on standby in case any of the current starters drop out.

The best of the locals this year looks to be Alsephina (Star Turn), a winner of nine races from 13 starts. Her record, coupled with William Pike riding for Grant and Alana Williams, has seen her well-regarded by many astute judges. Bustler (Playing God) is another key Western Australian-trained horse, alongside the 7-year-old Marocchino (Maschino), who was a shock winner of the G3 Asian Beau S. earlier in November.

Plenty of quality horses have made the trip from the east coast, including last-start winner Roots (Press Statement) and Group 1-winner Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}). Also travelling over is Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel), who is the only non-Australian bred horse in the race.

Trix Of The Trade is looking for successive wins in the race, not achieved since Tudor Mak in 1967, while Mojo Rhythm (Playing God) could deliever a maiden Group 1 to emerging trainer Mitchell Pateman.

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Currently on the market, the stunning Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm is a picturesque breeding operation on the outskirts of the quaint coastal town of Coronet Bay.

James O’Brien, who runs Lauriston simultaneously to his role as Director of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA), caught up with The Thoroughbred Report on Thursday to discuss the property, and the legacy it has built.

Optimal location

James O’Brien has continued on the work of his father Kevin, who passed away in 2020.

When discussing his fortune to work at such an idyllic location, O'Brien said, “It’s tremendous, it’s a great part of the world, fantastic pasture.

“I know that parts of Australia have been suffering from drought over the years, but this is real horse country, with regards to the right grass.

“It’s really good land and a nice part of the world.”

Perfectly located on the edge of the peaceful coastal town of Coronet Bay, the property has access to local beaches, which have been graced by the likes of Incentivise (Shamus Award) and Nature Strip (Nicconi), as well as sub-90 minute travel times to the Melbourne CBD, Mornington Peninsula, Pakenham and Cranbourne.

Gallery: Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm is located on the edge of the coastal town of Coronet Bay, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Transitional period

Well-positioned within the industry to understand contemporary challenges faced by participants, O’Brien said on the subject of staffing, “I think staff in the industry right now is a big issue.

“Nowadays a lot less people grow up around horses when compared to years gone by. So having people with expertise around horses is always a problem.”

Asked if the primary motivator for downsizing was labour-related complications, O’Brien told The Thoroughbred Report, “It hasn’t been the main driver, it’s a decision to consolidate the mares, with a focus on quality rather than quantity. It’s an economy of scale.”

The property has served its purpose for the operation, which no longer needs the facilities to operate under the future direction of the business.

Discussing what comes next, O’Brien said, “On a separate farm we are operating pre-training facilities, we have three uphill tracks, and I think that’s a great competitive advantage, along with access to the beach.

“We’re quite busy in that area.”

Glamorous legacy

With almost two decades of providing young horses into the sales ecosystem, Lauriston have been able to produce some elite-level prospects that would train on to do great things on the track. Asked if there was a particular standout, O’Brien said, “I think the one that really put us on the map was Global Glamour, she was purchased by a syndicate of ladies all around the world.

“There were a number of high-profile industry people, I think there were 40 women, led by Elaine (Lawlor). We had people from Arqana in France, from Kentucky, all around the world, as well as locally.

“It was just amazing, she won two Group 1s, she beat the best fillies in Sydney in the (G1) Flight Stakes and then a week later backed up into Melbourne and beat the best fillies here in the (G1) Thousand Guineas. Back to back Group 1s, it was just outstanding.

“Congratulations to Gai Waterhouse, and Adrian Bott, I think she gave him his first Group 1 winner as a trainer, so just the profile around that horse was great, it was tremendous.”

Winning five of her 19 starts, Global Glamour (Star Witness) accrued over $1,500,000 in prizemoney for her all-ladies syndicate, before going on to sell for $1,550,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Gallery: Global Glamour selling for $1,550,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2019, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Post-retirement, she has been served by a number of top-class stallions, with her first foal Scientist - Amazing Run (Zoustar) a winner. She has also visited Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Snitzel. Her engagement for the 2023 breeding season was to shuttle stallion St Mark’s Basilica (Fr).

The sale campaign is being managed by real estate agency Donovan + Co, in collaboration with Magic Millions.