Ready to Run Stallion Roster in a League of its Own
5 October 2022
With their first two-year-olds stepping out on to racetracks over the next few weeks, there could be no better time than the New Zealand Bloodstock 2022 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November to snap up the progeny of a well-credentialled group of freshman sires.
The 329-lot catalogue features a bumper representation of first season and emerging stallions from both sides of the Tasman, whose stock is set to soar during the 2022-23 season.
New Zealand-based First Season Sires
Rich Hill Stud’s Ace High retired to stud as a Group One winner in both Sydney and Melbourne, having captured the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Victoria Derby (2500m) during an outstanding three-year-old spring campaign. He later added the Group Two Hill Stakes (2000m), along with several other big-race placings.
Ace High is by the enormously influential former shuttle stallion High Chaparral, whose other sons at stud include the likes of So You Think (NZ), Dundeel (NZ), Toronado, Contributer, Redwood, Tivaci and Wrote.
Ace High’s first yearlings received strong demand at Karaka 2022, averaging $93,889 from nine lots sold in the Book 1 session. They were bought by the likes of Te Akau Racing, Wexford Stables, Patrick Payne, Bjorn Baker, Tony Pike, Roger James and Robert Wellwood.
Ace High has five two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including:
- Lot 96, a filly whose dam is a three-quarter-sister to Cox Plate (2040m) hero El Segundo (NZ) (Pins).
- Lot 210, out of a half-sister to the dam of multiple Sydney Group One placegetter Riodini (NZ) (Proisir).
Well-related Redoute’s Choice stallion Ardrossan had only a brief racing career before retiring to Waikato Stud, but he still made an impact with four wins and two placings from nine starts.
He was a Listed winner as a two-year-old and added the Group Three Concorde Handicap (1200m) at four, along with a third behind Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) in the Group One Waikato Sprint (1400m) and a placing in the Group Three Star Kingdom Handicap (1200m) in Sydney.
As well as being a son of the mighty Redoute’s Choice, Ardrossan boasts plenty of pedigree credentials on the dam side. He is a half-brother to three stakes winners, headed by Caulfield Cup (2400m) hero Incentivise (Shamus Award).
Ardrossan yearlings averaged $104,000 in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, bought by the likes of Yes Bloodstock, Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Tony Pike and Chris Rutten.
Four of his two-year-olds will be offered at the Ready to Run Sale, including:
- Lot 43, a colt whose dam Carib (NZ) (Montjeu) has already been represented by four winners, along with Sade (NZ) (Savabeel), who is herself the dam of Group Three winner Force Of Will (NZ) (Power).
- Lot 141, whose three-race-winning dam La Adelita (NZ) (High Chaparral) is a half-sister to Group One performer Rocanto (NZ) (Per Incanto).
Cambridge Stud’s young gun Embellish (NZ) has an early edge over his peers on this list, having already sired a winner with his very first runner.
His daughter Luberon (NZ), bred and raced by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, led all the way for a super-impressive victory by four lengths in an 800-metre race at Ruakaka.
Embellish has already turned heads at Karaka, fetching a price tag of $775,000 when David Ellis bought him from Waikato Stud’s draft at the 2016 Premier Sale.
The striking son of Savabeel is a full brother to Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel), whose seven wins included the Group One New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). Diademe has made her own mark at stud, producing stakes winner Unition (Fastnet Rock) and Group Two-placed Conqueror (Fastnet Rock).
Embellish won three of his 10 starts in the Te Akau tangerine, headed by the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) – beating a field that also featured subsequent Group One winners Age Of Fire (Fastnet Rock), Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) and Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux).
Embellish also finished second in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.
The Ready to Run Sale features seven sons or daughters of Embellish, including:
- Lot 49, a half-brother to Singapore Golden Horseshoe (1200m) winner Boomba (NZ) (Showcasing).
- Lot 297, a half-brother to two stakes performers including last season’s Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) third placegetter Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).
Brighthill Farm’s Eminent was a Group One performer in both hemispheres, racing in the blue and white hooped colours of Sir Peter Vela.
He began his career in the northern hemisphere, winning three races including the Group Three Craven Stakes (1600m) at Newmarket and Group Two Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000m) at Deauville. He also ran third in the Group One Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) and fourth in the Epsom Derby (2400m).
Eminent ended his career in Sydney, where he finished second behind Avilius (Pivotal) in the Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
By legendary racehorse and champion sire Frankel, Eminent is out of the Group One Fillies’ Mile (1600m) placegetter You’ll Be Mine (Kingmambo).
Eminent made a big splash during Book 1 of Karaka 2022, averaging $110,000 and fetching a top price of $250,000 for a colt that was bought by Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller Racing.
Four of his progeny will go under the hammer during the Ready to Run Sale, including:
- Lot 67, a half-brother to two stakes performers including Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner Zabrasive (NZ) (Zabeel). This gelding’s dam, Danasia (Danehill), was a Listed winner in Sydney and placed in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
- Lot 213, a half-brother to President Lincoln (NZ) (O’Reilly), who won the Group Two Wellington Guineas (1500m) before a successful career in Hong Kong, where he placed in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).
Novara Park’s Staphanos is an elite-performing son of the legendary Deep Impact. A four-time winner up to Group Three level, he also picked up Group One placings in both Hong Kong and Japan. He finished second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m), Tenno Sho (2000m) and Osaka Hai (2000m), and third in the Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Tenno Sho.
Staphanos was in hot demand in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, with fillies selling for $250,000 to Chris Waller Racing and Yes Bloodstock and for $200,000 to Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis.
Two sons of Staphanos feature in the catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale. Lot 98 is a half-brother to Listed winner Caduceus (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) and the Group Three-placed Katie Perrie (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop).
Australian-based First Season Sires
One of the standout sons of the late, great Redoute’s Choice, exciting Arrowfield Stud rookie The Autumn Sun won eight of his nine starts in a glittering career.
He was a Group One winner at two in the JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane, and as a three-year-old he added the Golden Rose (1400m), Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Arrowfield have already struck gold with sons of their iconic stallion Redoute’s Choice, enjoying enormous success with multiple champion sire Snitzel.
There was plenty of buzz around The Autumn Sun’s first yearlings at Karaka 2022, headed by a $900,000 colt bought by Roger James and Robert Wellwood.
Three sons of The Autumn Sun will be offered during the Ready to Run Sale. Lot 250 is a half-brother to Australian Derby (2400m) hero Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock) and the stakes-placed Sweet Anna (NZ) (Tavistock), and from the extended family of champion sprinter Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice), Group One performer La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky) and countless other black-type stars.
Himself a $220,000 purchase by Mick Price Racing and Cameron Cooke Bloodstock from Trelawney Stud’s draft at the 2016 Premier Sale, Grunt (NZ) won five races on the track headed by a Flemington Group One double – the Australian Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old, followed by the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) in the spring of his four-year-old season.
Grunt is well-related, being by O’Reilly (NZ) out of a half-sister to Horse of the Year and highly successful sire Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park). Grunt is himself a half-brother to Group Two winner Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) and the stakes-placed Addison (NZ) (Jimmy Choux). Grunt stands at Yulong Stud for a fee of A$13,750.
There are three two-year-olds by Grunt in the catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale. Lot 271 is out of a winning Snitzel mare, and from the family of Group One winners Sixty Seconds (NZ) (Centaine), Legs (NZ) (Pins), Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire), Guyno (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly).
By the high-flying Zoustar, Aquis Farm’s Lean Mean Machine won the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) in Brisbane as a two-year-old before an outstanding third in the stallion-making Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington the following spring.
Carrying a touch of New Zealand flavour in his pedigree as a grandson of Group One Avondale Gold Cup (2200m) winner She’s A Meanie (NZ) (Prince Salieri), Lean Mean Machine has one two-year-old in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue.
Lot 305 is out of the Listed-placed Thwayya (Snitzel), whose only foal to race is the Australian winner Xtrayya (Xtravagant).
Snitzel stallion Showtime retired to Arrowfield Stud as a multiple Group Two winner of the Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) and PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m), along with six other stakes placings including the Group One Futurity Stakes (1400m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m).
A full brother to Group One winner Sweet Idea (Snitzel), Showtime is represented in the Ready to Run Sale by Lot 42. The colt is closely related to the three-time Group One-winning superstar sprinter Hay List (Statue Of Liberty).
Widden Stud’s Trapeze Artist is another son of the great Snitzel, and he retired to stud with an exceptional racing career behind him. He won seven races and more than A$5 million in stakes, headed by Group One wins in the Golden Rose (1400m), TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), All Aged Stakes (1400m) and Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
Trapeze Artist featured at Karaka 2022 earlier in the year, with a colt bought by Waikato Bloodstock for $150,000.
He has one colt catalogued for the Ready to Run Sale – Lot 12, closely related to stakes performers Shadow Minister (Dane Shadow) and Silhouette Noire (Dane Shadow).
While a strong lineup of first season sires offers the prospect of buying into new bloodlines, there is an elite calibre of second season stallions in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue who are beginning to make their mark on the turf.
Australasian audiences sat up and took notice of the first two-year-old progeny of an exceptional group of young stallions last season, and now buyers have an opportunity to get on board with the second crops by these exciting up-and-comers.
The headline acts on either side of the Tasman in 2021-22 were Almanzor and Russian Revolution, who enjoyed outstanding debut seasons to be crowned leading first-season sire in New Zealand and Australia respectively. They both feature among the catalogue for this year’s Ready to Run Sale, backed up by numerous other rising stars of our stallion ranks.
New Zealand-based Second Season Sires
One of the best-performed racehorses to shuttle to New Zealand in recent times, Almanzor arrived at Cambridge Stud with three elite Group One victories to his name and a mountain of hype – and he has wasted no time in living up to expectations.
Almanzor’s first yearlings were a sensation at Karaka 2021, selling for up to $560,000 and fetching an aggregate of over $8.1 million and an average of $193,571. Those figures earned him second spot on the overall sires’ standings behind only the long-time Karaka kingpin Savabeel.
Almanzor has carried on in much the same way since those first southern hemisphere progeny reached racing age. He was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire last season, siring three winners with total earnings of $701,935.
Quality colt Dynastic (NZ) led the way, triumphing in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and making Almanzor the first freshman stallion in a decade to sire the winner of that lucrative Ellerslie feature.
Dynastic has gone on to make a bold start to his three-year-old season, scoring an impressive win in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hastings, while Almanzor has also been represented by six winners in Australia including Group Two placegetter Virtuous Circle (NZ).
Almanzor is the sire of seven two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including:
- Lot 126, whose dam is a half-sister to Group One winner Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock), Group Two winner Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner) and Listed winner Royal Ocean (Fastnet Rock).
- Lot 248, a half-brother to the stakes-placed Smiling Touch (NZ) (O’Reilly) and from the same family as black-type winners such as Te Akau Coup (NZ) (Thorn Park), Don Garcia (NZ) (Danehill), Alzora (Redoute’s Choice) and Sacramento (Pierro).
Hinchinbrook stallion Derryn went toe to toe with some of Australia’s elite sprinters, winning the Group Two Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) during The Championships at Randwick and placing in four stakes races including behind Redzel (Snitzel) in the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1200m).
He has made a bold start to his second career at Grangewilliam Stud too, finishing third on New Zealand’s first-season sire standings last season. The high point came in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m), where Sophmaze (NZ) won and Channel Surfer (NZ) was a fast-finishing third. Sophmaze also finished second in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m).
The catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale features two geldings and a filly by Derryn, including Lot 111, who is a half-brother to stakes-winning filly Dream Queen (NZ) (Super Easy). A two-time winner in New Zealand, she relocated across the Tasman and added the Listed William Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
A perfect storm could be brewing when it comes to demand for the progeny of Satono Aladdin.
As a Group One-winning son of legendary sire Deep Impact, Satono Aladdin already had plenty of credentials behind him when he began shuttling to Rich Hill Stud in 2018. His stocks have only increased since then, with 34 first-crop winners in Japan backed up a string of promising youngsters in Australasia. He has sired four winners in New Zealand and three in Australia, including stakes placegetter and leading Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) contender Sacred Satono (NZ).
However, logistical issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Satono Aladdin from shuttling to New Zealand for the 2020 breeding season, meaning he has no yearlings available for purchase this season. For any buyers wanting to source Satono Aladdin’s progeny at Karaka this season, the Ready to Run Sale is the time to do it – and there is just one in the catalogue.
Lot 236 is a colt out of the unraced Red Ransom mare Red Magnolia (NZ), whose dam is a half-sister to Oaks winner Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice) and to the dam of Hong Kong Group Three winner Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi).
Securing a multiple Group Two winner and Royal Ascot track-record-breaker for shuttling duties was exciting enough for Little Avondale Stud, but that excitement only grew as the first northern hemisphere two-year-olds by Time Test began to excel on the racetrack.
The Dubawi stallion’s first European crop has produced no fewer than 26 winners, four of them at stakes level including multiple Group Three winner Rocchigiani.
It’s a hard act to follow, but Time Test’s first southern runners have given it their best shot. Remarkably, three of them made the field for the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January – Time Flies (NZ), Timeless (NZ) and Time Ruler (NZ). Later in the season, Leedox (NZ) and Timeless finished first and third respectively in the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.
Buyers will have access to six of Time Test’s progeny at the Ready to Run Sale, including:
- Lot 175, whose half-brother Khaya (NZ) (Librettist) placed in three stakes races in Hong Kong including the prestigious Group One Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
- Lot 281, out of a half-sister to Zonza (NZ) (Zabeel). Herself the winner of five races including the Group Three Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield, Zonza is the dam of Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock), Group Two winner and Group One-placed Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready) and stakes winner Bavella (Snitzel).
A smart winner of the Group Two Vintage Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old, beating subsequent two-time Dubai World Cup (2000m) winner Thunder Snow (Helmet), War Decree has taken up residence at Inglewood Stud as a quality addition to the South Island’s stallion ranks.
He had an early two-year-old winner last season with Turf War (NZ), along with Group Three placegetter Val Di Zoldo (NZ). The new season has also started on an encouraging note, with Miss Take (NZ) winning by a wide margin on debut before finishing fourth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).
The Ready to Run Sale features a pair of War Decree two-year-olds, including Lot 221, who is out of the Savabeel mare Princess Sapphire (NZ). Herself a two-race winner, Princess Sapphire is a half-sister to the Australian Listed winner and Group Two placegetter Merion (NZ) (O’Reilly), and to the dam of stakes winner Mackenzie Lad (NZ) (Vespa).
Australian-based Second Season Sires
Yarraman Park’s Hellbent is an exciting young son of barn-mate and super-sire I Am Invincible. He made an outstanding start last season with a dozen winners, including stakes placegetters Miss Hellfire, Bohemian Daisy and Warby.
Hellbent is the sire of Lot 307, who is out of a half-sister to star Singapore performer King Louis (Medaglia d’Oro) and multiple stakes placegetter Bound To Blush (Strategic). The latter is also the dam of Listed winner Final Award (Smart Missile).
A familiar name at Karaka, Heroic Valour was himself a $400,000 purchase at this sale ring during the 2015 Premier Sale. He was selected by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis, and he carried the tangerine silks to four stakes wins including the Group One Diamond Stakes (1200m), Listed Matamata Slipper (1200m) and Listed Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Both of those Listed features have since been upgraded to Group Three.
Now standing at Raheen Stud in Queensland, Heroic Valour was a surprise package last season with a top-five finish among Australian first-season sires. He had eight winners for total earnings of A$735,031.
A multiple Group One-winning son of Snitzel, Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution made a big statement with his first crop of two-year-olds last season.
His 15 winners earned a total of A$1.84m and included two stakes winners – Revolutionary Miss, who won the Group Two Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) and was runner-up in the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m), along with Group Three Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) winner Rise Of The Masses. Two others were stakes-placed.
Standing for a service fee of A$71,500, Russian Revolution is represented by two colts in the catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale. Lot 137 is out of the dual Listed winner Kekova (NZ) (Elusive City), who is already the dam of three winners from five foals to race.
The first of Heroic Valour’s progeny to ever go through the Karaka sale ring will be Lot 147, from the family of multiple Group One winner and sire Roderic O’Connor. A full-sister to this colt, Baby Guinness, was a two-year-old winner in Australia last season.
But the emerging sire talent in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue isn’t limited to second-season sires. There are also several stallions who came of age with their first three-year-old progeny last season and whose careers appear to be heading on a steep upward trajectory.
BELARDO followed his champion first-season sire title with a second placing among second-season sires in 2021-22. His southern hemisphere progeny now feature a total of 34 winners, headed by Sydney Group Three winner Verona (NZ), Listed winner Avonallo (NZ), Group One placegetter Fonsalette (NZ) and Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) placegetter Fellini (NZ). Five of his progeny will go through the ring during the Ready to Run Sale.
- Lot 228 is a gelding by Medaglia d'Oro mare Qiji Sunlight. This lot’s granddam is prolific Group winner in New Zealand Veloce Bella (NZ) (Volksraad) who won six Group races throughout her career, culminating in the Group One International Stakes (200m).
CAPITALIST has made a superb start to his stud career, finishing second among first-season sires for 2020-21 and filling the same position on the second-season standings in 2021-22. He has already racked up 94 winners, nine of them at stakes level including Group One winner Captivant. He commands a service fee of A$99,000, and he is the sire of three colts in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue.
- Lot 202 is out of a half-sister to Group One New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Rollout The Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor). This colt is from the same family of multiple stakes winners including Wandering Star (Red Ransom), the dam of Group One Newmarket Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) victor War Command (War Front).
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TIVACI is another kiwi stallion who came of age during the 2021-22 season, thanks to a pair of outstanding fillies on opposite sides of the Tasman. Never Been Kissed (NZ) was a star performer in Sydney, winning the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) and placing in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m). In New Zealand, quality two-year-old Wolverine (NZ) was a dual Group Two winner and placed in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Tivaci has already added another stakes-winning filly in the early stages of 2022-23, with One Kiss (NZ) capturing the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m). Tivaci is strongly represented in the Ready to Run Sale, with 12 of his progeny in the catalogue.
- Lot 61 is a colt out of dual Group One winner Costume (NZ) (Savabeel) and is a full brother to Listed Oaks Prelude runner up Outfit (NZ).
- Lot 162 is a colt out of Volksraad mare Magic Time (NZ) and is a half-sibling to multiple Group One winner and 2018 Champion Sprinter/Miler in New Zealand Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel).
TURN ME LOOSE (NZ) enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2021-22, soaring to prominence through the deeds of Group One filly She’s Lickety Split (NZ) and fellow Group winners Prix De Turn (NZ) and Alabama Gold (NZ). Lickety Split has already made a strong start to her three-year-old season, winning at Group Three level at Ruakaka before claiming the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last weekend, as well as placing third in the Group Two Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m). Turn Me Loose has five two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue.
- Lot 121 is out Inspire Me (NZ) (Pour Moi), who is a half-sister to Group One winner Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man), as well as Listed winner Ruettiger (Duporth) and Group Three placed Brookspire (Hinchinbrook).
- Lot 144 is our of multiple Group winner mare in Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel). This Lot is a half-brother to Group Two Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (160m) winner Fascino (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Listed St Leger (2800m) placegetter Favreau (NZ) (Tavistock).
VADAMOS was New Zealand’s leading second-season sire last season, with 11 winners and total earnings of over $650,000. La Crique (NZ) won at Group Two and Group Three level and was runner-up in the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m), while Art De Triomphe (NZ) and Grace’s Secret (NZ) both scored impressive victories at Listed level. Vadamos has five two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue.
- Lot 124 is a colt out of Group Two winner Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King). This lot is a half-brother to multiple stakes winners including Killarney (NZ) (O’Reilly), winner of the Group Three White Robe Lodge Stakes (1600m) and Crosshaven (Smart Missile) who won the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) in Australia.
International buyers wishing to physically attend the 2022 Ready to Run Sale can enquire about accommodation options by emailing Dorian.Kos@nzb.co.nz.
Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via bidonline.nzb.co.nz, plus an extensive online catalogue right here that will host pedigrees, parade videos and photos, breeze up clips and data analysis, updates and important information to assist your buying decisions.
NZB and New Zealand-based agents will also be available to complete inspections and provide evaluations at the upcoming Ready to Run Sale on-farm parades.
For enquiries or sale information, contact Bloodstock Executive Kane Jones (Kane.Jones@nzb.co.nz or +64 27 274 4985) or Sales Representative Regan Donnison (Regan.Donnison@nzb.co.nz or +64 21 512 466).
View the full catalogue online here.
Important Dates
- 2022 Breeze Ups
17 and 18 October at Te Rapa Racecourse - 2022 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds
16 and 17 November at Karaka