Perfumist (NZ) a Flagbearer for Fillies in NZB Ready to Run Sale

Fillies are featuring more and more prominently in NZB’s Ready to Run Sale, showing up in greater quantity and quality with every passing year – and the filly talent the sale can produce is being showcased by current black-type performer Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca). 

The number of fillies in the catalogue has increased sharply over the last decade. Only 27 fillies were sold during the 2015 edition of the Ready to Run Sale, while 72 are catalogued for Karaka next month.

Last year’s Ready to Run Sale saw 49 fillies sell for a total of more than $4.05m. Their average price was $82,693, and the highest-priced filly was a daughter of Proisir and Sansa Stark (NZ) (Iffraaj) that was offered by Prima Park and was bought for $280,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock. The filly has been named Proisarya (NZ).

A year earlier at the 2023 edition of the Ready to Run Sale, that same buying group teamed up with Phill Cataldo Bloodstock to secure an El Roca filly from Westbury Stud’s draft for $190,000.

Named Perfumist, she has so far earned A$588,758 from a 16-race career that has produced six wins and four seconds.

Baker guided Perfumist to four consecutive wins in Sydney in December and January, then brought her back across the Tasman to contest the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8. She earned $180,000 from her highly creditable fifth placing in that $3.5m feature.

Now a four-year-old, Perfumist has returned to that top form over the last few weeks with a scintillating front-running win at Randwick on October 4 and a gallant second in the A$250,000 Group Three Angst Stakes (1600m) on Everest Day at the same venue last Saturday. That black-type placing has greatly boosted her potential value as a broodmare at the completion of her racetrack career.

Buyers searching for suitable prospects to follow in Perfumist’s footsteps have plenty of fillies to choose from in the 2025 Ready to Run Sale catalogue. Notable lots include:

• Lot 14, who is a Hello Youmzain half-sister to the Group Two Sarten Memorial (1400m) winner Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro). The dam Okahu Bay (Flying Spur) won the Group Three South Australia Fillies’ Classic (2500m).
• Lot 45, by boom stallion Too Darn Hot and from the family of legendary sprinter Black Caviar (Bel Esprit). This filly’s second dam, the stakes-placed Song Of The Sun (Desert Sun), is a half-sister to the dam of Black Caviar as well as the multiple Group One winner and successful sire All Too Hard.
• Lot 100, a half-sister to the Group Two Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m), Group Three Scarborough Stakes (1400m) and Group Three Mannerism Stakes (1400m) winner Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir).
• Lot 120, a half-sister to Group Three winner and multiple Group Two placegetter Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj) as well as the Group Three-placed Knight Mariner (NZ) (Tavistock).
• Lot 171, a daughter of Ole Kirk, who sired last Saturday’s Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Ole Dancer from his first crop of three-year-olds. This filly’s dam Touch Of Mink (Not A Single Doubt) won three races and placed in the Group Two Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic (1600m).
• Lot 192, by Proisir out of a three-quarter-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) winner and multiple elite-level placegetter Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar).
• Lot 237, whose sire Bivouac has produced Group One Golden Rose (1400m) hero Beiwacht from his first crop of three-year-olds. This filly’s dam Balancing Act (Not A Single Doubt) won five races and placed at Listed level, and she has produced two winners from three foals to race including the stakes-performed Left Field (Deep Field).
• Lot 269, a half-sister to Hong Kong’s Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) winner Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi) along with stakes-winning mare East Asia (NZ) (Sweet Ace).
• Lot 318, a close relative to Saturday’s A$2m Group Three Sydney Stakes (1200m) placegetter With Your Blessing (NZ) (Vadamos). That seven-year-old gelding has won seven races and almost A$1m in stakes, including a recent Group Three victory in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m).
• Lot 339, a filly by Exceedance out of the Group Two VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) placegetter Fling (All Too Hard).
• Lot 369, a beautifully bred filly by I Am Invincible out of a blue-blooded and winning Fastnet Rock mare.
• Lot 423, whose time of 10.57 seconds was the fastest Breeze Up by a filly in this year’s catalogue. She is being offered by Foxhill Thoroughbreds and is by Almanzor out of the four-race winner and Group Two-placed Lady Krovanh (Dehere).
• Lot 457, a half-sister to stakes winner Red Giant (NZ) (Red Striker) and the Listed-placed Accidental Tourist (NZ) (Telperion).
• Lot 475, a three-quarter-sister to the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock).

NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 10am (NZT) on Wednesday 12 & Thursday 13 November.