Ready to Run Graduate Perfumist (NZ) Takes NZB Tibbie Stakes

Friday’s A$250,000 Group Three Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle was proudly sponsored by NZB, and it was fittingly won by a Karaka graduate who also has a full-brother catalogued for the upcoming 2026 Ready to Run Sale.

Perfumist (NZ) was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, who offered her in Westbury’s draft for the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. She was bought by Bjorn Baker Racing, OTI, Phill Cataldo Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock for $190,000.

From a 21-race career, Perfumist has now had eight wins and four second placings and has earned A$854,158 – more than five times her purchase price.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Perfumist burst on to the Sydney scene during her three-year-old season in 2024-25, winning four races in a row to earn a trip back to New Zealand to contest the inaugural $3.5m NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie in March of 2025, in which she ran a gallant fifth behind Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) and Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto).

She was below her best form at times in her four-year-old season, but still managed a second in the Group Three Angst Stakes (1600m) and a midfield finish in the A$10m Golden Eagle (1500m).

Perfumist had scored an impressive four-length trial win at Warwick Farm leading into Friday’s first-up assignment, and she took her A-game to Newcastle to collect an all-important first win at black-type level.

Ridden by Rachel King, Perfumist settled in fifth before pouncing on the leaders at the top of the straight. She pulled away over the last 200 metres and crossed the finish line two and a half lengths clear.

“It’s fantastic, Bjorn has done an amazing job,” stable representative Luke Hilton said. “She hasn't had the best first-up record, and he did things differently this time leading in and gave her an exhibition gallop and a couple of good gallops at home, and it paid off.

“She really set the track alight on the Kensington track last week, and it was hard to believe the time she ran, so we always knew she was going well.

“She's got a lovely pedigree, and she is really on target now to go back to the Angst and then off to a Big Dance (1600m) later in the year.”

The Big Dance will be run for a stake of A$2m at Randwick on November 3. But Baker revealed to Racenet that Friday’s performance may have earned Perfumist a shot at an even bigger target beforehand.

“Wow, that was awesome,” he said. “Now I’m seriously thinking about running her with 50 kilos in the Epsom (Group One, 1600m) off that.

“The Epsom into the Big Dance sounds like a plan.”

There is also a timely connection to this year’s NZB Ready to Run Sale, with Westbury Stud offering a full-brother to Perfumist as Lot 66.

The 2026 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 18 & 19 November, with Breeze Ups to be held across two consecutive days on one turf track at Te Rapa Racecourse on 12 & 13 October.

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	Bjorn Baker Racing / OTI / Phill Cataldo Bloodstock / Clarke Bloodstock (New South Wales)
Breeding	El Roca – Tapputi
Sale	Lot 267, 2023 Ready to Run Sale, $190,000
Breeder	G Harvey
Owner	O T I Racing, Mr S Cheetham, Mrs T Cheetham, Mr M E Pisani, Mr G P Amy, Ms M Vitale, Mr P D Yisrael, Mr M Marigliano, Mr J R Mulligan, Hot Chips Racing, Mr J Johannisen, Mr J A Boyd, Mr M Perry, Webbmck Racing, Beartown 45, Mr P A Tasker, Mr R Bow, Mr P Hickey, Dynamite Racing, Mr J McGregor