Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Velocious is an outstanding early entry for the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale, which concludes July 30. The filly will be available for inspection at Vinery Stud starting Tuesday, organised through David White while Go Racing’s Matt Allnutt will also be available for enquires.
A superstar juvenile
Velocious (Written Tycoon) was crowned New Zealand Champion 2-year-old for the 2023/24 season after a spectacular juvenile campaign, which included victory in the G1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie.
She won four of her six starts at two, beginning with a slashing debut win at Te Rapa where she defeated Red Sea (NZ) (Pierro) - later Group 1-placed, and the three-time Group winner Bellatrix Star (Star Witness).
She then stepped up to Listed level in the Counties Challenge Stakes at Pukekohe, again defeating Bellatrix Star, with Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth) finishing third, the form strong again as he would go on to become a Listed winner.
At her third start, Velocious added a Group 2 placing behind Bellatrix Star and subsequent Group 1 winner, and now Lovatsville stallion - Move To Strike.
Velocious winning the Listed Karaka 2YO Million | Image courtesy Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Her dominant win in the NZ$1 million R. Listed Karaka 2YO Million further underscored her quality, scoring by just over two lengths from a deep field that included subsequent stakes winners Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), Bellatrix Star, Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), Poetic Champion, Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan), and So Naive (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}).
That race has produced numerous mares that went on with the job as they developed, and turned into valuable broodmares, including Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), and Ruud Awakening (Bernardini {USA}).
Velocious’ crowning moment came with her victory in the G1 Sistema Stakes, making her one of just six fillies to win the time-honoured feature in the past 20 years. Trained by Stephen Marsh, she is one of only three Group 1-winning 2-year-old fillies by Written Tycoon, the others being G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and La Luna Rossa (NZ), dam of this season’s Group 1-placed 2-year-old Hidden Achievement (I Am Invincible).
Velocious winning the G1 Sistema Stakes | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
As a 3-year-old, Velocious added two open handicap victories at Te Aroha and Te Rapa, no mean feat for a filly taking on older horses. Her record now stands at six wins from 13 starts, and earnings of NZ$980,550.
Go Racing’s view: “She’s exceptional”
Velocious proved an outstanding investment for Albert Bosma’s Go Racing, who secured her for NZ$190,000 from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Inglewood Stud.
Bosma described her simply as “exceptional”.
“She was so dominant as a 2-year-old. She had superior speed and class, and that’s a powerful combination. That’s what makes an exceptional young horse,” Bosma said.
“She (Velocious) was so dominant as a 2-year-old. She had superior speed and class, and that’s a powerful combination. That’s what makes an exceptional young horse.” - Albert Bosma
“When she won the Karaka Million, we went into that race enormously confident because we knew how good she was. When she won her Group 1, she got caught up in traffic on the way to the track and only arrived 40 minutes before the race, straight into saddling and the mounting yard. There was no time to relax or recover, and that’s hard for young horses.
“If we had brought her to Australia at two, I have no doubt she would have measured up in Group 1 races.”
Albert Bosma | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Bosma also believes she will be a highly commercial broodmare.
“She’s a good size. One of the things that surprised a lot of people as a 2-year-old was that she wasn’t a little thing, she’s a really good-sized mare, good length, correct, and she moves well. In terms of type, she’s really got it all,” he said.
“Anybody that looks at her is going to be very impressed with what they see. It’s a pedigree that continues to move, and one we think will keep improving. Offering her on Inglis Digital was the natural decision, the platform’s record speaks for itself.
“Offering her (Velocious) on Inglis Digital was the natural decision, the platform’s record speaks for itself.” - Albert Bosma
“It is sad for Velocious to be sold, but it’s the right decision ahead of the breeding season.”
Bosma went onto comment “It’s a pedigree on the move. Parmalove is a very good mare and I think it’s only going to up grade. We have the half-sister Alacritous who we think is a Group 1-quality filly. She won her maiden as a 2-year-old at Matamata and we think she is very good. Whoever buys her (Velocious), they’re in for a few upgrades, I think.”
Alacritous (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Alacritous (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) was purchased by Go Racing and Blandford Bloodstock from the 2024 Karaka sale, again from Inglewood Stud. She looks a filly to follow into next season. Meanwhile, Parmalove (Snitzel), the dam of Velocious, was bought for $730,000 at the 2024 Inglis May (Early) Online Sale by Walnut Farm and is due to foal to Written Tycoon this spring.
Go Racing and Blandford Bloodstock tripled-down at Karaka 2025, buying the third filly in a row out of Parmalove, securing a Per Incanto (USA) filly for NZ$375,000.
A highlight for the digital platform
Inglis Bloodstock Sales Manager and New Zealand representative Brett Gilding said securing Velocious for the July (Late) Online Sale had been a long-term aim.
“We’re hugely grateful to Albert and the Go Racing team to be afforded this opportunity to offer Velocious on their behalf,” Gilding said.
Brett Gilding | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I was at Ellerslie when she won the Karaka Million and fell in love with her when I saw her in the paddock before the race. She’s a beauty, and I think people will love her when they see her.
“We’re hugely grateful to Albert and the Go Racing team to be afforded this opportunity to offer Velocious on their behalf.” - Brett Gilding
“She was a very natural 2-year-old, winning twice before December 1, beating Bellatrix Star over 1000 metres on debut, and then a stakes race over 1100 metres.
“People want to breed and race horses like her, and I think major breeders are going to be excited by the opportunity to breed from a filly like her.”
