NZB Ready to Run Sale on Fire with G2 Double

NZB’s Ready to Run Sale celebrated its second Group 2 double of the season yesterday at Ellerslie courtesy of standout performances from Valbuena (NZ) and Sangster (NZ).

The Bruce Wallace trained Valbuena (Darci Brahma x Vega Sicilia) secured the first leg of the double with victory in the $85,000 Group 2 The Falls Restaurant Avondale Guineas (2100m).

The lightly raced three-year-old put himself right into Group 1 NZ Derby contention yesterday under jockey James McDonald, racing a little better than mid-field before tearing away in the straight to a half-length victory in a strong staying performance.

“It was a great run and a great ride from McDonald,” said trainer Bruce Wallace. “I said to Peter and Philip (Vela) from day one that the horse has ability and he has had his share of bad luck but it was his race yesterday and it was great to see him run away from the field in the last 200 metres.

“We will look to the Derby next start. He beat most of his main rivals yesterday so it would be great to think that he could do it again in the Group 1.”

Valbuena’s last start came in the Group 2 Wellington Stakes (1600m) where he finished an unlucky fifth to Weissmuller (Handsome Ransom) and he clearly enjoyed the step up in trip in yesterday’s race. The victory has seen his odds for the NZ Derby tumble to $6.

The son of Darci Brahma was bred and is raced by Peter and Philip Vela’s Pencarrow Stud and was offered by Kilgravin Lodge at the 2011 Ready to Run Sale.

Valbuena is the eighth stakes winner for his sire Darci Brahma who was also bred by Pencarrow Stud. Darci Brahma’s progeny are having a good season on the track with Nashville, Darci be Good, Sir Lovesalot and the crack two-year-old filly Recite also successful at stakes level.

Dual Group 1 winner Sangster (Savabeel x Quinta Special) completed the Group 2 double for NZB’s Ready to Run Sale with an easy win in the $85,000 Group 2 Cardinal Logistics Avondale Cup (2400m).

The last start winner of the Group 1 Darci Brahma Stakes made light work of the field under 59 kilograms, racing mid-field and easing away from his rivals in the straight with Opie Bosson in the saddle to win by an authoritive two lengths.  

“He was the class horse in the field and he proved it,” commented co-trainer Trent Busuttin. “It was the first time he hasn’t been three-deep going out of the straight in a long time and Opie rode a great race.”

Trainers Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young have had the Auckland Cup in their sights with Sangster for some time and with the son of Savabeel dropping to just 54 kilograms in the Cup, he looks extremely well placed in New Zealand’s feature 3200 metre race. The win has seen his odds firm to just $2.20 in the Cup.

“We are confident that he will see out the 3200 metres,” said Busuttin. “We were a bit concerned today as he threw his head around early in the race and he is a horse that you need to work hard to keep on top of so we may look to give him another run to top him off before the Cup on 6 March.”

Sangster was bred by Eblem Ltd and was purchased by Trent Busuttin from Kilgravin Lodge at the 2010 Ready to Run Sale for $22,000.

Raced by Martin Bradley, Tom Heptinstall, Kevin O'Brien, M Fenwick, K Greenlees, D Kneebone and L & T Stewart, the VRC Derby winner’s record now stands at 18 starts for five wins – two at Group 1 level – for over $1.5 million in stakes.