Impressive Performances Wrap up Day Two of Breeze Ups

Day Two of New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw the final 169 two-year-olds complete their gallop down the home straight of Te Rapa Racecourse.

The Soft 5 track and fine weather remained consistent throughout the second day even after a quick shower of rain before the day commenced, with the wind picking up slightly in the afternoon.

The average time on Day Two was 10.91, a fraction slower than the 10.80 calculated on Day One, and compared to a combined average of 10.86 over the course of the two days, complimenting the consistency of the Te Rapa track.

NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones was particularly impressed with the performances across the two big days of gallops.

“The quality of horses and preparers has really shone through over the course of the past two days, it was great to see how they paraded and breezed so professionally.”

“The consistency of the track and relatively good weather over the two days has been well received.

“It was also pleasing to see the number of both international and domestic agents in attendance, I think it bodes well for a successful sale,” commented Jones.

Australian-based bloodstock agent Andrew Williams was pleased with the quality on display over the course of the past two days.

“I think everyone should be very happy with the caliber of horses that have gone through.”

“The horses performed particularly well and there were some good times.

“I’ve seen some really nice horses here across the board by some proper stallions,” added Williams.

Riversley Park’s principal Sam Beatson breezed up a total of 41 horses and considers the two days a success for his team. 

“It's been a good couple of days for our team and we are stoked with the conditions.”

“The track was fantastic and played very fair for both days from start to finish even when it looked like it was going to get wet early morning, but the weather held off," commented Beatson.

Day Two Highlights

• After a brief early-morning shower, the track remained a Soft 5 and the weather was cloudy with the wind picking up slightly in the afternoon. The average time on Day Two was 10.91.
• The fastest heat on Day Two was Lot 289, a gelding by All Too Hard with Lot 32, a gelding by Dubious. The pair from 2022’s leading vendors Riversley Park galloped in 10.34 and 10.37 respectively.
• One of the early heats on the day with Ohukia Lodge’s Lot 381 (Deep Field colt) and Lot 56 (Russian Revolution colt) who breezed in a quick 10.38 and 10.39 respectively.
• Ohukia Lodge also presented Lot 114 a colt by Capitalist and Lot 117 a gelding by Super Seth who both breezed down the home straight in a time of 10.40.
• Some interesting lot catalogued to breeze today included Lot 116, a half-brother to Hong Kong megastar Lucky Sweynesse (NZ). Presented by Woburn Farm, the son of Contributer breezed home in a time of 10.49 at the end of second day.
• Kovalica’s half-sister by Super Seth in Lot 298 ran the same time of 10.49 during today’s session for Kilgravin Lodge who prepare the filly.

Attention now turns to NZB’s Ready to Run Sale to be held at Karaka on 22 & 23 November 2023.

Footage of the Breeze Ups and Mounting Yard footage will be made available to viewers on NZB’s website by Friday 20 October, as well as streamed on Trackside in New Zealand, plus Sky Racing and Racing.com in Australia.

All breeze up times, weather and track conditions, wind anemometer readings and which day they breezed up can be viewed against each catalogued lot on NZB’s website. To view these and the catalogue, click here.