Will there be a new star of the turf from the New Zealand Ready to Run Sale?

Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale has 360 lots catalogued after withdrawals, with Lots 1 to 240 selling on Wednesday and Lots 241 to 480 on Thursday.

“It’s all hands on deck at the moment. The numbers around for parades are strong and we have a huge contingent and diverse spread of buyers,” said New Zealand Bloodstock Manager Kane Jones.

“We keep saying it - the results keep building. There is a phenomenal amount of top horses that come out of this sale.

“We always had Golden Sixty and Lucky Sweynesse as flag holders, but the Australian results have boomed, and Ceolwulf winning the Champions Mile last weekend was a great example.

“The team have been working tirelessly to get the right people here. There are plenty of people on the grounds, a really good spread and a diverse pool of potential buyers.

“We have potential buyers from all areas of the market - we have a lot of people from Malaysia and China, plenty of Hong Kong trainers, Australians, and a really good number of local trainers.”

Another 10 Group 1 wins for graduates last season

Last season, 10 Group 1 wins were added to the sale’s impressive record, including victories by Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth), Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), continuing a legacy of elite graduates that includes Hong Kong superstars Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) and Golden Sixty (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}).

This season has begun in a similar fashion, with Ceolwulf producing a tenacious win in the G1 Champions Mile at Flemington last weekend. He is now the winner of four Group 1 races, with seven wins and seven placings from 25 starts, earning over $10.9 million. The horse is a top-class performer for trainer Joe Pride and part-owner Leighton Howl, who purchased him for NZ$170,000 from the Riversley Park draft in 2022.

Buyers also had the chance to secure Mr Brightside at the 2019 Ready To Run Sale, but he was passed in short of his NZ$50,000 reserve. The now 8-year-old gelding has since won 20 races - including 10 at Group 1 level - and nearly $19 million in prizemoney, with further success this spring in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes.

Last season’s G1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce was purchased by McKeever Bloodstock and Sutton Racing for NZ$160,000 at last year’s sale. This season, the talented 4-year-old has already placed in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Select lots upgraded with quality updates

Since the catalogue went to print, several 2-year-olds have received significant pedigree updates.

Lot 248, an Ace High colt presented by BMD Bloodstock, got the update every vendor dreams of when his half-brother Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) won the G1 Caulfield Stakes during the spring. The colt’s dam Bonnie Doon (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) is also a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Booming (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), ensuring there’s plenty happening in this pedigree.

Lot 159, a Tivaci colt presented by Jamie Beatson’s Ohukia Lodge, received a timely boost when his half-brother Von Hauke (NZ) (Savabeel) won the G2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley.

Lot 35, a Turn Me Loose (NZ) gelding offered by Pertab Racing, also gained an update after his half brother Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who had already won six races in Hong Kong when the catalogue went to print, added two Group placings to his record - a strong black-type enhancement for a horse suited to the Asian market.

Lot 179, a colt by Russian Camelot (Ire), is a half-brother to the dam of Well Written (Written Tycoon), who debuted after the catalogue was finalised. Well Written has since won all three starts, including the G2 Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie and the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas last weekend in very impressive style at Riccarton.

In addition to these updates, 25 lots have had half-siblings record wins since the catalogue went to print - a clear sign of the ongoing momentum within these pedigrees.

Proven success across all types

The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale continues to produce elite performers across all distances and age groups - from Sprinters to Milers, Guineas horses and Derby contenders, 2-year-olds up to older horses. The sale has an element of versatility in terms of what kind of type the sale produces.

“From last year’s sale we had two colts that were Group 1 placed as 2-year-olds in Hostility and Hidden Achievement. To go with horses that have great longevity in their careers. There really is something for everyone in this sale,” Jones said.

Gallery: Colts that were Group 1 placed as 2-year-olds, Images courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

Proven and emerging stallions represented

Buyers will again have access to a deep range of stallions, with proven quality Australian sires such as I Am Invincible, Written Tycoon, Toronado (Ire), Too Darn Hot (GB), Zoustar, Harry Angel (Ire), and progeny by the quality stallions that have all sadly died this year in Snitzel, Wootton Bassett (GB) and So You Think (NZ) all represented.

There’s also a strong New Zealand proven presence through Proisir, Savabeel, Almanzor (Fr), Satono Aladdin (Jpn), Per Incanto (USA), Shamexpress (NZ) and Super Seth.

Emerging stallions Noverre (NZ), Home Affairs, Sword Of State, Hello Youmzain (Fr), Alabama Express and Ghaiyyath (Ire) also feature prominently.

Gallery: Some emerging stallions featured in the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Race Sale

“There is a wide army of proven stallions, some top-liners that look like potential stallion prospects, and some exciting first-season sires such as Noverre and Sword Of State, who sold so well as yearlings,” Jones said.

“New Zealand is in a strong position of stallion strength, with young ones coming through - that’s exciting to build on.”