Proven Performance Among NZB Ready to Run Sale Sires

While any sale of young horses always generates huge excitement around the progeny of up-and-coming stallion talent, buyers can also strike gold by sticking with the tried and true.

The Group One-winning graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale are a case in point, with proven sires producing the likes of Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor), Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj), Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj), Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) and Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) in the last decade.

As usual, the catalogue for the upcoming 2022 Ready to Run Sale features a cross-section of proven sire talent from around New Zealand and Australia – including all of the top eight stallions from last season’s premiership in New Zealand, and 10 of the top 20 in Australia.

New Zealand-based Sires

SAVABEEL 

Undoubtedly New Zealand’s stallion supremo, Savabeel has topped the domestic sires’ premiership in all of the last eight seasons.

The Waikato Stud kingpin finished the 2021-22 season with 48 winners in New Zealand, eight of them at stakes level for total earnings of $3.39m – more than $500,000 ahead of his nearest challenger.

His influence over New Zealand racing is shown in the honour rolls of Group One races throughout this country, with Savabeel’s progeny winning 15 of the 20 elite prizes on the annual kiwi calendar – 10 of them more than once.

Savabeel has also made his mark across the Tasman, finishing among the top 20 on the premiership in all of the last three seasons. Probabeel (NZ) and Mo’unga (NZ) both won at Group One level in Australia in 2021-22, joining Kiwi stars Noverre (NZ), The Perfect Pink (NZ), The Chosen One (NZ) and Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) for a remarkable total of six individual Group One winners for the season.

Savabeel’s results have led to massive demand for his progeny at Karaka, breaking the $1m barrier three times with his yearlings, while another dozen have fetched $750,000 or more.

The 2022 Ready to Run Sale promises to bring more of the same, with 11 of his progeny in the catalogue, including:

• Lot 65, out of the Pins mare Daisy Chain (NZ), who is a sister to stakes performers Snowdrop (NZ) (Pins), Grand De Flora (NZ) (Savabeel) and Grand Bouquet (NZ) (Savabeel). The second dam is the multiple Group One-winning star mare Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed).

• Lot 76, a full-brother to stakes winner Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel) and from a prolific blacktype family.
• Lot 115, whose dam is a three-quarter-sister to the sensational Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).

• Lot 278, out of Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi).

 

TAVISTOCK 

Buyers are running out of chances to secure the progeny of the great Tavistock (NZ), who died in December of 2019. The last yearlings by the Cambridge Stud superstar went through the ring at Karaka earlier this year, and these are his final two-year-olds.

Tavistock is the sire of 474 winners from 688 runners, 38 of them at stakes level, and he has a well-earned reputation as king of the classics.

His nine Group One winners include two in the Victoria Derby (2500m), two in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m), as well as an Australian Derby (2400m), New Zealand Derby (2400m), Queensland Derby (2400m), Australasian Oaks (2000m), Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and Singapore Derby (2000m).

Tavistock’s influence has only strengthened in the years since his untimely death, with Johnny Get Angry (NZ) capturing the Victoria Derby in 2020, Asterix (NZ) and Pinarello (NZ) delivering a New Zealand Derby-Queensland Derby double last season, and outstanding sprinting mare Entriviere (NZ) winning at Group One level in New Zealand and Group Two in Sydney. She also placed in the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1200m).

The last-chance offering of Tavistock two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale features three lots, including:

• Lot 182, whose winning dam More Jools (More Than Ready) finished fourth at stakes level and is a half-sister to Group Two winners Ninth Legion (Fastnet Rock) and Tsaritsa (Dane Shadow).
• Lot 198, out of a two-race-winning Fastnet Rock mare whose brother Rock Classic (Fastnet Rock) won the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m).

 

BURGUNDY 

Another Cambridge Stud star making a final appearance at the Ready to Run Sale is Burgundy (NZ) – the blue-blooded stallion who became a top-drawer racehorse and quality sire.

By Redoute’s Choice and a half-brother to multiple Group One winner and leading sire Darci Brahma (NZ), Burgundy was a $1.3 million yearling purchase by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis at Karaka 2010. He won seven races, five of them at stakes level, and placed in the Group One Telegraph (1200m).

Cut short by his untimely death in 2019, Burgundy’s stud career has so far netted 108 winners from 211 runners, including eight individual stakes winners.

The 2021-22 season was his best ever, finishing third on the New Zealand premiership as Belle En Rouge (NZ) captured three stakes wins including the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m), while another black-type treble by stablemate Maven Belle (NZ) included the Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Maven Belle was crowned New Zealand’s champion two-year-old.

Just one member of Burgundy’s final crop is available at the Ready to Run Sale – Lot 193, a colt from the family of Hong Kong Champion Sprinter and Group One King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) winner Little Bridge (NZ) (Faltaat).

 

PER INCANTO 

Little Avondale’s Per Incanto is a stallion at the peak of his powers in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.

The son of Street Cry has been credited with 308 winners worldwide from 466 runners. He has finished in the top five on the New Zealand sires’ premiership in all of the last five seasons, has risen through the Australian ranks to finish 29th in 2021-22 and among the top 20 through the early stages of 2022-23, and has been Hong Kong’s leading sire by winners in the last two seasons.

Per Incanto has sired five individual Group One winners, most notably the historic Kiwi triumph by Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) in this year’s Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Another of his standout progeny is elite Australian sprinter Lost And Running (NZ), who has earned almost A$3m with nine wins including this month’s Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m).

Buyers will have access to 12 progeny of Per Incanto at the Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 90, out of Group One-winning mare Fleur De Lune (NZ) (Stravinsky). This colt is a full-brother to Fleur De Lune’s first foal to race, Forte (NZ) (Per Incanto), who has been a sprint winner in Hong Kong.
• Lot 163, a son of Singapore stakes winner Makkura (NZ) (Falkirk).
• Lot 253, a three-quarter-brother to the Sydney Group Three winner, multiple Group Two placegetter and Group One fourth placegetter Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto).

 

PROISIR 

Standing at Rich Hill Stud, Proisir has racked up 115 winners from 201 runners.

He has ridden a crest of a wave in recent seasons, scoring his first top-20 finish with a 12th placing in the New Zealand sires’ premiership in 2020-21, followed by a fifth in 2021-22 and a table-topping position through the first two months of 2022-23.

Proisir’s eight stakes winners are headed by the multiple Group One winner Levante (NZ) and fellow elite performer Dark Destroyer (NZ), who followed a black-type treble as a three-year-old with a brilliant first-up win in last month’s Group One Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings.

Belle Plaisir (NZ) has won at Group level in Australia, while Riodini (NZ) ran elite placings in the Group One George Main Stakes (1600m) and Epsom Handicap (1600m). Last Saturday at Matamata, the highly promising Pier (NZ) picked up his first black-type win in the Group Two Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).

The Ready to Run Sale catalogue features four juveniles by Proisir, including:

• Lot 79, a half-brother to South African Group One performer Generous Anna (General Nediym).
• Lot 326, who is closely related to stakes winners Richracer (NZ) (Pentire), Dee And Gee (NZ) (Darci Brahma), Armstrong (NZ) (Classic Fame), Star On Ice (NZ) (Half Iced) and Three Chimneys (NZ) (Generous).

 

SHOCKING 

Shocking brought elite Australian flavour into New Zealand’s stallion ranks, retiring to Rich Hill Stud as a Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Australian Cup (2000m) hero. And although regular success has followed on New Zealand soil, including the likes of Group One winner Fanatic (NZ) and New Zealand Bloodstock Horse of the Year Self Obsession (NZ), it is on the other side of the Tasman that he has really shone in recent seasons.

Shocking finished 19th on the super-competitive Australian sires’ premiership last season and occupies a similar position through the early stages of 2022-23. He has sired three individual Australian stakes winners in that time, headed by the exceptional I’m Thunderstruck (NZ).

From 18 starts, I’m Thunderstruck has recorded seven wins and six placings, earning more than A$7.3m. His feature wins include the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) and A$7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m), and he has placed in another four Group One races.

Overall, Shocking has sired 177 winners from 340 runners, including 19 individual black-type winners. As well as his career-best 19th position in Australia last season, he reached New Zealand’s top 10 for the first time with his sixth placing for 2021-22.

The catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale features Lot 287, a Shocking gelding whose dam is a half-sister to Group Three winner Rising Heights (NZ) (Stark South), and to the dam of multiple Group winner Supreme Heights (NZ) (Jimmy Choux).

 

DARCI BRAHMA 

He celebrated his 20th birthday at the beginning of this season, but The Oaks Stud’s Darci Brahma (NZ) remains an enduring presence at the top end of New Zealand sires’ premierships.

Himself a million-dollar yearling at Karaka and five-time Group One winner on the track, the son of Danehill has sired 533 winners from 731 winners including 57 individual stakes winners. He has finished in the top four on the New Zealand premiership in eight of the last 10 seasons, and currently sits in second through the early weeks of 2022-23.

Darci Brahma has sired Group One winners in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong, producing the likes of elite sprinters D B Pin (NZ) and Irish Fling (NZ), stellar mare Sierra Sue (NZ), Oaks winners Artistic (NZ) and Gust Of Wind (NZ), and Guineas stars Catalyst (NZ), Risque (NZ) and Kahma Lass (NZ).

Darci Brahma is the sire of six two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including:

• Lot 87, whose unraced dam – a mare by High Chaparral – is out of stakes-winning mare Felenic (NZ) (Cape Cross) and closely related to trans-Tasman Group One placegetter Pavan (NZ) (Centaine).
• Lot 241, a son of Argentinean Group One winner Ride Of Valkyries (Orpen).

 

EL ROCA 

Another New Zealand sire who enjoyed his best year to date in 2021-22, Westbury Stud’s El Roca finished eighth on the Kiwi premiership with 35 winners, three stakes winners and more than $1.4 million in stakes.

Overall, the son of Fastnet Rock has been credited with 105 winners from 178 runners, with 12 individual winners at black-type level.

Group One winner Travelling Light (NZ) remains the best of the bunch, but Lucky Patch (NZ) has emerged to win two Group Two sprints in Hong Kong, and Mali Ston (NZ), Irish Girl (NZ) and White Noise (NZ) all scored Group wins in New Zealand during 2021-22.

El Roca is set to feature prominently in the Ready to Run Sale with eight lots catalogued, including:

• Lot 73, a half-brother to the exciting filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), who has won both starts to date and is among the favourites for the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November. Another half-sibling, Ajay Tee (NZ) (Foxwedge), placed at stakes level.
• Lot 157, whose dam is a full-sister to Cox Plate (2040m) hero El Segundo (NZ) (Pins).

 

GHIBELLINES 

White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines has been an outstanding addition to the South Island’s stallion ranks, siring 56 winners to date including six at stakes level.

The last 12 months in particular have been remarkably successful for the son of Shamardal. At this time last year, his only stakes winner was the Listed winner El Gladiador (NZ). Since then:

• Smokin’ Romans (NZ) has won the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m), Group Three MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) and Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m).
• Markus Aurelius (NZ) captured the Group Two Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m).
• Palmetto (NZ) collected two Listed victories in February.
• Live Drama (NZ) and Burgie (NZ) also scored at Listed level.

The stocks of Ghibellines are well and truly on the rise, and buyers can get on board at the Ready to Run Sale with Lot 295. The chestnut gelding is out of a winning Makfi mare who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Bassett (NZ) (Savabeel) and closely related to Group One winner and sire Fully Fledged (NZ) (Align).

 

TARZINO 

With his oldest progeny now four, Westbury Stud’s Tarzino (NZ) is impressively stepping up to carry on the legacy of his own late sire Tavistock (NZ).

Himself the winner of the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Tarzino produced two Australian classic winners from his debut crop of three-year-olds last season.

Gypsy Goddess (NZ) won the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m), placed in two other Group One races and was Australia’s champion three-year-old filly for 2021-22, while Jungle Magnate (NZ) took out the South Australian Derby (2400m).

Overall, Tarzino has sired 22 winners to date from his first two crops, and he has several promising three-year-olds coming out of the woodwork through the first few weeks of the new season. There could be no better time to secure his progeny, and the Ready to Run Sale gives buyers 11 to choose from, including:

• Lot 60, a half-sister to the Group Two Autumn Classic (1800m) placegetter Subiaso (Testa Rossa).
• Lot 135, out of a half-sister to multiple Group One winner and exciting sire Turn Me Loose (NZ).
• Lot 183, out of a half-sister to quadruple Group One winner Silent Achiever (NZ) (O’Reilly).

 

Australian-based Sires

SO YOU THINK 

Coolmore Stud’s So You Think (NZ) has come a long way since he was bought for $110,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2008. He was a champion racehorse in both hemispheres, winning 10 Group One races, and he has become a force to be reckoned with at stud.

The sire of 498 winners from 731 runners including 44 stakes winners, So You Think had his best-ever season in 2021-22. He finished second on the Australian sires’ premiership with 149 winners,12 stakes winners and more than A$19.3m in prize-money, headed by an incredible Group One treble on the second day of The Championships at Randwick in April – Knights Order in the Sydney Cup (3200m), Think It Over in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and Nimalee in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).

So You Think is represented in the Ready to Run Sale by Lot 191, out of three-race-winning mare No Doubt Ma’am (Not A Single Doubt). No Doubt Ma’am is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Just Dreaming (Snitzel), while dam Royal Commands (Commands) was a Listed winner in Melbourne.

 

SHAMUS AWARD 

Cox Plate (2040m) and Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Shamus Award stands at Rosemont Stud, where his service fee has increased to A$88,000 on the strength of outstanding progeny performances.

The son of Snitzel has sired 187 winners from 290 runners, with 20 stakes winners headed by Group One stars Incentivise, Duais, Mr Quickie, El Patroness and Media Award.

Buyers at Karaka have had limited access to Shamus Award’s progeny in recent years, with one in Karaka 2022, one in Karaka 2021 and one each in the 2019 and 2018 Ready to Run Sales.

The catalogue for this year’s Ready to Run Sale features two colts by Shamus Award. Lot 328 is out of the South African Group Two winner Winterinthewoods (Western Winter) and boasts a pedigree page stacked with black type.

 

WRITTEN TYCOON 

The phenomenal Written Tycoon needs little introduction, having risen from humble beginnings to be one of Australia’s most sought-after stallions at a service fee of A$165,000 at Yulong Stud in 2022.

Australia’s champion sire in 2020-21, Written Tycoon has been represented by a total of 759 winners from 998 runners. He has sired 52 individual stakes winners, with a dozen Group One winners including the likes of Ole Kirk, Coolangatta, Capitalist, Pippie and Written By.

Lot 276 in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue is by Written Tycoon out of the winning Snitzel mare Snitzel Blitz (Snitzel), which makes this colt a half-brother to the classy Australian galloper Pinstriped (Street Boss).

 

ZOUSTAR 

The winner of the stallion-making Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Golden Rose (1400m), Zoustar has risen through the ranks to command a fee of A$198,000 at Widden Stud this season.

The outstanding son of Northern Meteor has produced 353 winners from 542 runners, with 33 stakes winners including Group One winners Sunlight, Zoutori, Mizzy and Zougotcha in Australia, along with two-year-old filly Lezoo in the UK this year.

Zoustar has two lots in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including Lot 322, a half-brother to the Australian Group Three winner and Group Two placegetter Kaepernick (Fastnet Rock). Dam Volcada (NZ) (Stravinsky) was also a Listed winner in Australia.

 

DEEP FIELD 

Another top-quality son of Northern Meteor, Newgate Farm’s Deep Field was a Group Two winner and Group One-placed in a short racetrack career, but it has been at stud that he has really made an impact.

Deep Field has been a prolific source of winners, already racking up 294 from 425 runners to date, and his 19 stakes winners include Group One winners in Australia (Portland Sky), Hong Kong (Karaka graduate Sky Field) and South Africa (Al Muthana).

Deep Field has a bumper representation in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue with seven lots, including:

• Lot 95, out of a half-sister to Group One winners Castelvecchio (Dundeel) and Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile).
• Lot 231, out of a sibling to sensational racehorse Incentivise (Shamus Award) and young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan.

 

PIERRO 

Breathtaking racehorse Pierro won 11 of his 14 starts including five at the highest level, and he has continued to excel in his second career at Coolmore Stud, where his 2022 service fee has been set at A$99,000.

Pierro’s 487 runners include 325 winners, 30 of them at stakes level. That list is headed by the Group One winners Arcadia Queen, Regal Power, Shadow Hero, Pierata, Levendi and Pinot, along with Hong Kong star Furore (NZ) – himself a $210,000 purchase from Karaka 2016.

Pierro is the sire of Lot 325 in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue. The bay filly is out of Wedding (Commands), a winning half-sister to five stakes performers including the Listed winners Handfast (Street Cry) and Rusambo (Elusive Quality.

 

EXCEED AND EXCEL 

Darley’s phenomenal performer Exceed And Excel has been credited with an extraordinary 1691 winners from 2390 runners worldwide.

The legendary stallion has 204 individual stakes winners to his name, 16 of them at Group One level including four-time Group One winner Guelph, champion two-year-old Earthquake, Golden Slipper (1200m) heroine Overreach, superstar sprinters Mr Stunning and Bivouac, sire sons Excelebration, Exceedance, Helmet, Sidestep and Microphone, and many more.

Exceed And Excel is represented by two colts in the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 81, whose dam is a half-sister to VRC Oaks (2500m) winner Personal (Fastnet Rock).

 

International buyers wishing to physically attend the 2022 Ready to Run Sale can enquire about accommodation options by emailing Dorian.Kos@nzb.co.nz.

Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via bidonline.nzb.co.nz, plus an extensive online catalogue right here that will host pedigrees, parade videos and photos, breeze up clips and data analysis, updates and important information to assist your buying decisions.

NZB and New Zealand-based agents will also be available to complete inspections and provide evaluations at the upcoming Ready to Run Sale on-farm parades.

For enquiries or sale information, contact Bloodstock Executive Kane Jones (Kane.Jones@nzb.co.nz or +64 27 274 4985) or Sales Representative Regan Donnison (Regan.Donnison@nzb.co.nz or +64 21 512 466).

View the full catalogue online here.

Important Dates

2022 Breeze Ups
17 and 18 October at Te Rapa Racecourse

2022 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds
16 and 17 November at Karaka