Ready to Run Sale Graduate Old Fashioned (NZ) Stars in Guineas

Excitement is growing in the countdown to the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November, and a new star graduate of the world’s leading sale of two-year-olds emerged in Saturday’s $175,000 Group Two The Foxes @ Novara Park Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings.

The prestigious spring three-year-old feature was won by the unbeaten colt Old Fashioned (NZ) (Proisir), who was offered by Lilywhites Lodge at the 2025 Ready to Run Sale but was passed in. He has now had two starts for two wins and $120,750 in stakes.

Trained by Bill Thurlow, Old Fashioned made only one appearance as a two-year-old last season, winning over 1200 metres at Wanganui in June.

He won a trial at Foxton on September 15 in the lead-up to Saturday’s Guineas, but he nevertheless headed to Hastings somewhat under the radar amongst a field full of quality performance and big reputations. But Old Fashioned rose to the occasion with a barnstorming black-type breakthrough win.

Ridden by Kelly Myers, Old Fashioned settled three back on the inside before angling out to launch his bid through a gap one off the rail early in the run home.

Runners fanned out across the track to stake their claim in a blanket finish, and it was Old Fashioned who finished the best to win by three-quarters of a length from the previously unbeaten Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor).

“He has always shown us a lot, but we’ve sort of stayed away from the hype and let him do the talking,” Thurlow said. “Today he has done that. We were confident coming into it, but it is a horse race.

“We drew barrier one and had to use that. He has heaps of gate speed, and although we had ridden him back at the trials to teach him, we can ride him anywhere as he is such a good horse.

“He has a good turn of foot that most horses don’t have. We knew we had him ready, it was just a matter of whether he could do it.”

Old Fashioned’s performances have attracted international attention, but owner-breeders Matthew Goodson and Diana Perron are keen to hold on to the exciting three-year-old.

“Matt and Diana love him, and he will stay here with them for the time being,” Thurlow said.

Saturday’s performance made a big impression on Myers.

“I don’t know what to say about this horse,” she said. “He is massive and has just got gears.

“I tried to play the patient game and thought the gap would come. It did come and I asked him, but he takes a few strides to wind up and then he says ‘just kidding’ and finds another gear.

“I thought he was very dominant today.

“I wasn’t that stoked to draw barrier one – I didn’t think it was the best draw given he is such a big horse, and he goes well when ridden cold.

“You can’t throw away a good draw like that and he is pretty adaptable, so you can ride him anywhere.

“The world is his oyster, and with a turn of foot like that, he is pretty exciting. He has only had the one start, but he raced like a professional today.”

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 from 9.30am.

Lilywhites Lodge will present 12 quality two-year-olds in the upcoming Sale. View them online here.

Vendor	Lilywhites Lodge
Breeding	Proisir – Contrary Mary
Sale	Lot 281, 2025 Ready to Run Sale, Psd (Res $150,000)
Breeder	Goodson & Perron Family Trust
Owner	Goodson & Perron Family Trust