Exciting Young Sires in the NZB Ready to Run Spotlight

Stallion rosters on both sides of the Tasman have had an injection of exciting young talent in recent seasons, and the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this November is a great opportunity for buyers to get their hands on the progeny of these talented up-and-comers while their stocks are on the rise.

EMERGING SIRES

New Zealand-based sires

U S NAVY FLAG

A brilliant Group One winner of the Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) and Middle Park Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old and the July Cup (1200m) against older horses as a three-year-old, U S Navy Flag was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire in 2022-23. He stands at The Oaks Stud for a service fee of $15,000.

U S Navy Flag made a superb start at stud last season with seven winners from his first crop of New Zealand two-year-olds with stakes performances by the likes of Chantilly Lace (NZ), To Catch A Thief, Aprilia (NZ), Penvose Lad (NZ) and most recently Warning Signal (NZ).

Yearlings by U S Navy Flag have sold for up to $340,000 at Karaka. He is the sire of four two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including:

• Lot 212, a half-brother to the Group Three Tesio Stakes (1600m) winner Lubiton (Snitzel).
• Lot 317, whose dam is an unraced half-sister to the Group Three Sunline Vase (2100m) winner Communique (NZ) (Redwood).

   

ARDROSSAN

Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan is a half-brother to the superstar Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Incentivise (Shamus Award), but he has made a mark in his own right both on the racetrack and at stud. His service fee at Waikato this season is $10,000.

Ardrossan himself had just nine starts for four wins, headed by the Group Three Concorde Handicap (1200m) and the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1100m). He also placed in the Group One Waikato Sprint (1400m), as well as the Group Three Star Kingdom Handicap (1200m) in Sydney.

Ardrossan has been a prolific source of black-type performers through the early stages of his new career at Waikato Stud. He is the sire of six winners from just 15 runners, and he has been represented by stakes winners Codigo (NZ), Loch Katrine (NZ) and Saltcoats (NZ).

Ardrossan yearlings have sold for up to $260,000 at Karaka, and he is represented by four entries in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including:

• Lot 139, a filly whose dam is a half-sister to the stakes-winning dam of Group One star Reigning To Win (King Of Kings).
• Lot 198, who is a half-brother to the Group Three winner Pop Star Princess (NZ) (Makfi) and the stakes-placed Queen Of Zealand (NZ) (Savabeel).

 

EMBELLISH

Cambridge Stud appears to be on to another winner with Embellish (NZ) – the beautifully bred, physically outstanding entire who has lived up to those credentials on the racetrack and with his early progeny. Embellish stands for a service fee of $5,000.

One of 32 individual Group One winners by champion sire Savabeel, Embellish is a full-brother to Diademe (NZ), who also won at Group One level and is the dam of Group performers Unition and Conqueror. Others to feature on the blue-blooded pedigree page include Group One winners I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Sacred Star (Flying Spur).

Embellish was a $775,000 purchase as a yearling by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis, and he proved to be worth every cent when he scored an outstanding win in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

With his oldest progeny now three-year-olds, he is the sire of four winners and three early black-type performers in Talisker (NZ), Luberon (NZ) and Paragon (NZ).

Demand has been strong for the progeny of Embellish, selling for up to $175,000 at Karaka this year. Embellish is the sire of five two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 50, a full-brother to Talisker, who followed his Group Two placing as a two-year-old with a recent win in his first three-year-old start.
• Lot 270, a son of the multiple stakes-winning mare The Lady (NZ) (Stravinsky). Herself the dam of five winners from five foals to race and a half-sister to three black-type performers including the dam of Group One winner Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock).

 

ACE HIGH

An outstanding winner of the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) during his own three-year-old season, Rich Hill Stud’s Ace High is showing all the right signs as his oldest progeny embark on their three-year-old campaigns. Ace High stands for a $10,000 service fee.

The first few weeks of the new season have brought three impressive winners for Ace High in Bezique (NZ), Molly Bloom (NZ) and My Lips Are Sealed (NZ).

The Ready to Run Sale catalogue features five progeny of Ace High, including:

• Lot 6, out of a placed daughter of the champion mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm). Close relatives to this colt include Group One performers Eleonora (NZ), Supera (NZ), Ethereal Star and Uberalles (NZ).
• Lot 75, a half-sister to last season’s Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) and Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) placegetter Japanese Emperor (NZ).

 

TIME TEST

Standing at Little Avondale Stud for a $10,000 service fee, Time Test broke a track record at Royal Ascot during his 14-start, six-win racetrack career, and he has started strongly at stud.

With his oldest sons and daughters in New Zealand now four-year-olds, Time Test is the sire of 30 winners from 72 runners among his southern hemisphere-bred progeny including stakes-performers Leedox (NZ), Running On Time (NZ), The Years (NZ), Madame Giselle (NZ) and Timeless (NZ).

Time Test’s yearlings have sold for up to $220,000 at Karaka, and he is the sire of six two-year-olds in the 2023 Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 152, a half-brother to the stakes-placed Sorrento (NZ) (Iffraaj). The dam is six-race winner and blacktype performer Needlly (NZ) (O’Reilly), who is a half-sister to the stakes winner Tomorrowland (NZ).
• Lot 340, a half-brother to the Group Three placegetter Barrow Boy (NZ) (Savabeel), who has also been a placegetter in Hong Kong under the name Round The Earth.

 

RIBCHESTER

After initially shuttling to Australia for his first two southern hemisphere seasons, exciting stallion Ribchester has found a new home at Haunui Farm, where his 2023 service fee is $12,000.

He is a son of the influential Iffraaj and already the sire of 21 winners from just 36 runners among his southern hemisphere-bred progeny. Krakarib and Red Card have both been stakes winners in Australia, while Portray and Plymstock have picked up black-type placings.

Yearlings by Ribchester sold for up to $170,000 earlier this year at Karaka. The 2023 Ready to Run Sale features nine of his progeny, including:

• Lot 20, out of a half-sister to the dual Flemington Group One winner Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel), plus Group Two winner Tullamore (NZ) (Savabeel) and Listed winner Grazia (NZ) (Savabeel).
• Lot 287, whose dam Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch) won at Group One level and is the granddam of Group One Australian Derby (2400m) hero Levendi (Pierro).

 

Australian-based sires

JUSTIFY

On the racetrack, Justify was invincible – six starts for six wins, including a clean sweep of the legendary Triple Crown to earn himself a place among American racing’s immortals. Now standing at Coolmore for a service fee of A$77,000, Justify immediately made a bold statement and finished as Australia’s leading first-season sire for 2022-23.

From 37 southern hemisphere-bred progeny to race so far, Justify has sired 16 winners including stakes winners Learning To Fly, Air Assault and Legacies.

Justify’s yearlings have sold for up to $600,000 at Karaka. He has five two-year-olds in the catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 156, out of the multiple stakes-winning Savabeel mare No Tricks (NZ).
• Lot 251, a filly whose dam Special Memories (Fastnet Rock) placed at Listed level and is a full-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Unforgotten.

 

HARRY ANGEL

Standing at Darley for a service fee of A$33,000, Harry Angel has made a strong start with 15 winners from 35 runners to date among his southern hemisphere-bred progeny.

Recently Stretan Angel won the Group Two Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington while Tom Kitten won the Group Three Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) and ran fourth in the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m), and Arkansaw Kid have been Listed winners.

Harry Angel is represented by two lots in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue:

• Lot 123, out of a Flying Spur mare whose brother Primus (Flying Spur) won at Group Three level.
• Lot 143, whose dam Monrecour (NZ) (Zacinto) won three races and was Group Three placed . Monrecour is also a half-sister to Hong Kong performer Fifty Fifty (NZ).

 

THE AUTUMN SUN

During his nine-start racing career, The Autumn Sun strung together eight outstanding victories, five of them at the Group One level. He now stands for a service fee of A$66,000 at Arrowfield Stud, which was the long-time home of his legendary sire Redoute’s Choice.

The Autumn Sun has so far been represented by nine winners from 42 runners including stakes-performers Autumn Ballet, Coco Sun, Tutta La Vita and Tulsi.

The Autumn Sun’s progeny have been hot property at Karaka, selling for up to $900,000 as yearlings. Buyers will have access to another two of his sons in the Ready to Run Sale:

• Lot 259, out of the stakes-winning American mare Stormy Victoria (Stormy River).
• Lot 302, a half-brother to stakes performers Zoukerette, Zoukerino and Spend. Their dam Walk With Attitude (Hussonet) was also a Listed winner.

 

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

A brilliant sprinter who won seven of his 11 starts including the Group One Galaxy (1100m) and Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Russian Revolution has been a sensational addition to the stallion roster at Newgate Farm, where he now commands a service fee of A$88,000.

The son of Snitzel was Australia’s leading first-season sire in 2021-22 and leading second-season sire in 2022-23. He has been represented by 97 winners from 189 runners, with eight individual stakes winners highlighted by headline acts Communist and Revolutionary Miss.

Russian Revolution has four progeny entered for the Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 56, whose dam Hawaiian Princess (NZ) is a three-quarter-sister to the Group One winner MacO’Reilly (NZ).
• Lot 173, a filly from the family of Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Catbird.

 

FIRST-SEASON SIRES

New Zealand-based sires

SUPER SETH

Super Seth stands at Waikato Stud for a service fee of $35,000, and he is the first Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner in more than three decades to stand at stud in New Zealand.

By champion Kiwi-bred racehorse and quality sire Dundeel (NZ), Super Seth is a half-brother to Group One performer Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom) and is out of a Redoute’s Choice mare.

Super Seth claimed his first winner on the weekend when his son Poetic Champion (NZ) raced away by six lengths on debut at Hawera for trainer Tony Pike, earning him a spot on the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO leaderboard.

Super Seth had yearlings sell for up to $625,000 at Karaka earlier this year. He will be represented by 12 two-year-olds during the Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 175, a filly out of the Group One-winning mare Perfect Fit (NZ) (Elusive City).
• Lot 298, a half-sister to Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park), who has been a brilliant winner of six of his 11 starts in Australia for champion trainer Chris Waller, including the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m).

 

TEN SOVEREIGNS

From just one season at stud in New Zealand at Valachi Downs, Ten Sovereigns sired a select crop of 44 foals.

By the influential No Nay Never and out of a stakes-performed mare, Ten Sovereigns won four of his eight starts including the Group One Middle Park Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old and the stallion-making Group One July Cup (1200m) as a three-year-old against older horses.

Ten Sovereigns has six progeny entered for the Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 177, whose dam is a half-sister to the dam of champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ).

• Lot 247, a half-sister to Sakura Girl (NZ), winner of the Group Three Sunline Vase (2100m).

 

FERRANDO

Himself a $40,000 purchase from the 2015 Ready to Run Sale, well-performed sprinter Ferrando (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous) now stands at Westbury Stud for a service fee of $5,000.

He won eight races and more than $270,000 in stakes, headed by wins in the Group Three Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) and Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) and placings in the Group One Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in both 2018 and 2019.

Ferrando has already had a placegetter on the track, with first-crop daughter Skymax (NZ) placing twice in early-season juvenile races.

There are three Fernando two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue. Lot 197 is out of the three-race winner Quaintrelle (NZ) (Savabeel), whose dam placed in the Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) and ran fourth in the Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m).

 

Australian-based sires

CASTELVECCHIO

The best-performed son of champion racehorse Dundeel (NZ), Arrowfield Stud’s Castelvecchio stands for a service fee of A$27,500.

He earned almost A$3m in his 13-start career, which featured victories in the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a two-year-old and Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) as a three-year-old. His three-year-old season also included a gallant second in the Group One Cox Plate (2040m).

Castelvecchio has two entries in the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 327, whose second dam is a half-sister to the dam of the legendary Winx.

 

EXCEEDANCE

After a short but sweet racetrack career that featured a victory in the stallion-making Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, Exceedance retired to Vinery Stud, where he stands for a service fee of A$33,000.

He is by Exceed And Excel out of Bonnie Mac (NZ) (Thorn Park), who herself won at Listed level and is also the dam of fellow stakes winners Oxley Road and Mac ‘N’ Cheese.

Exceedance yearlings sold for up to $220,000 at Karaka earlier this year. He has two fillies catalogued for the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 361, whose dam is a half-sister to the Group Two winner Military Rose.

 

MICROPHONE

Darley Stud’s Microphone was Champion 2YO in Australia in 2018-19, and he stands for a service fee of A$33,000.

By Exceed And Excel out of a stakes-winning mare by Anabaa, Microphone had 11 starts for five wins and five placings. His two-year-old season was headed by a win in the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Group Two Skyline Stakes (1200m). He added another Group Two win as a three-year-old in the Autumn Stakes (1400m).

Microphone’s yearlings sold for up to $200,000 at Karaka earlier this year. Two of his progeny are catalogued for the Ready to Run Sale, and both are half-brothers to stakes winners. Lot 276 is a half-brother to the Group Three Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) winner Brugal Reward, while Lot 336 is a half-brother to the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1300m) winner Star Of Bombay (NZ).

 

TASSORT

Standing for a service fee of A$11,000 at Newgate Farm, Tassort has taken an early lead in Australia’s first-season sire standings with his first runner Manaal winning the Group Three Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 30.

A half-brother to Group One winners Alizee (Sepoy) and Astern (Medaglia d’Oro), Tassort himself had just two career starts as a two-year-old, winning the Golden Gift (1100m) and finishing second in the Group Two Silver Slipper (1100m).

There are two sons of Tassort in the catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 183, whose dam Plethora (First Samurai) was a stakes winner in the United States and has already produced the black-type placegetter Poppy’s Destiny (Orb).

 

TOO DARN HOT

Darley Stud’s Too Darn Hot arrived in Australia in 2020 with outstanding credentials both on the pedigree page and the racetrack, and his service fee is A$44,000.

His sire is champion stallion Dubawi, and his dam Dar Re Mi (Singspiel) won Group One races in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Dubai. Too Darn Hot had nine starts in his own racing career, winning six of them to be crowned Europe’s Champion 2YO and 3YO Colt.

Too Darn Hot’s progeny sold for up to $750,000 at Karaka earlier this year. Four of his sons are catalogued for the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 186, who is out of Posavina (NZ) (Tiger Hill). Herself a Group Three winner of the Lowland Stakes (2100m), Posavina is the dam of two winners from two foals to race, including the stakes-placed Podravina (NZ).

 

ZOUSAIN

Standing for A$22,000 at Widden Stud, Zousain was a Group One performer at the ages of two and three.

A son of the outstanding Zoustar, he won the Group Two Champagne Classic (1200m) in a two-year-old season that also produced a runner-up finish in the Group One JJ Atkins (1600m).

Zousain has three two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including Lot 195, whose unraced dam is a half-sister to the dam of this year’s Group One Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) winner Palaisipan.

 

The 2023 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on 22 and 23 November, with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on 16 and 17 October.

View the full range of stallions, from proven, emerging and first season in the online catalogue here.