Impressive 3YOs for NZB’s Ready to Run Sale

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds celebrated five winners in Singapore over the weekend, a successful result ahead of its 2012 catalogue release this Friday 21 September.

Leading trainer Michael Freedman maintained his highly successful association with Karaka graduates in Singapore on Friday night sending out another debut winner carrying the ‘Super’ moniker in Super Ninetyseven (Show a Heart x Yabeel).

The three-year-old son of Show a Heart made his debut in the $65,000 2&3YO Restricted Maiden (1100m) and was trapped four wide for almost the entire trip with jockey Stephen Baster in the saddle.

Super Ninetyseven. Photo courtesy of the STC.

In the straight Super Ninetyseven showed his inexperience when laying in under pressure but once focused he was hugely impressive, producing a late turn-of-foot to defeat his rivals by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

“Tonight was a good result and the way he covered ground and pinged in the last bit tells me he will get over more ground,” said Freedman.

Last night’s Singapore meeting saw Ready to Run graduates win four races on the card with the Laurie Laxon trained Huka Falls (Align x Diamond Lady) maintaining his unbeaten record in the $65,000 Victoria Racing Club Trophy (1100m).

The three-year-old turned heads when winning his debut on 31 August and gave punters a fright last night when backed into favourite and bombing the start, being the last to leave the barriers.

However, punters’ reservations were quickly dealt to as top jockey Joao Moreira weaved the smart three-year-old through the field to a two-and-a-quarter length win. Laxon has had a big opinion of the horse, even before he made his debut, and has bigger things in mind for the son of Align.

“It’s not often you see that (miss the start) and see them win,” said Laxon. “I think the horse may learn something from that in that he can now race within a field.

“We’ll test him in something a bit stronger next time. He can run in the $200,000 Jubilee Stakes in two weeks.”

Moreira confirmed Laxon’s high opinion of Huka Falls after the win.

Huka Falls looks a serious prospect for Laurie Laxon. Photo courtesy of the STC.

“He has the feel of a Group winner and if he doesn’t win one then he would disappoint me,” said Moreira.

Trainer Leslie Khoo was another to saddle a young Ready to Run Sale up and comer in Silveron Warrior (Spartacus x Miss Muga). The three-year-old won his debut in early August by almost three lengths over 1200 metres and followed that up with a third placing at his last start.

Last night’s win in the $65,000 Novice race saw him step up to the mile and in the hands of Joao Moreira, he took the lead 300 metres from home and coasted to a two length win.

“He’s been a cheap and good buy,” said Khoo.” He cost me only $21,000 at the Ready to Run Sale last year and he’s already won twice and placed once.”

Fellow Ready to Run graduates One Smart Cat (One Cool Cat x Tennessee Moon) and El Padrino (Mr. Nancho x Crownie) were also successful in Singapore last night.

The addition of the blinkers proved successful with the Shane Baertschiger trained One Smart Cat with the three-year-old leading all the way to take his maiden victory at his fourth start after recording two placings.

The Casper Fownes trained four-year-old Grand Elite (O’Reilly x Lady Chanele) was also successful in Hong Kong on Saturday night winning fresh up over 1400 metres and taking his winning tally to two from nine starts. 

Catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale of Two-year-Olds (20 & 21 November 2012) will be available from next week and can be viewed live online from this Friday 21 September at www.nzb.co.nz.