Ready to Run Sale Graduate Sacred Master (NZ) Claims Newcastle Cup

On the same day as the catalogue was released online for the upcoming Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, high-class stayer Sacred Master (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) provided a timely demonstration of the value and quality that’s on offer at the Sale when he scored a tough win in the A$175,000 Group 3 XXXX Gold Newcastle Cup (2200m).

Ridden by Hugh Bowman for champion trainer Chris Waller, Sacred Master raced in midfield before moving out wide at the top of the straight to make his run. He and fellow Karaka graduate Dee I Cee (NZ) (Istidaad) went to the lead together, with Sacred Master outfighting his rival over the last 100 metres to score a narrow but authoritative win.

“I came up a little short on this bloke in the Wyong Cup last time, but he’s delivered today,” Bowman said. “I think he’s a progressive type, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

“I was aided by a really nice run in transit and he relaxed so well today, whereas at Wyong he was inclined to do a bit much. Today I was able to stay out of that speed battle, get him in his comfort zone and he delivered when it mattered.”

Bred by Richard Moore, Sacred Master was purchased for $65,000 by owners Raffles Dancers at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale. He has already earned more than four and a half times that amount in prize-money, headed by a win in last season’s Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and a third placing in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) while in the care of Cambridge trainer Tony Pike.

Sacred Master has now had 17 starts for seven wins, four placings and more than A$320,000 in stakes.

The first two finishers in the Cup are graduates of the Ready to Run Sale. Runner-up Dee I Cee, who placed behind Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) and Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ) (Tavistock) in the 2015 New Zealand Derby, sold for $7,000 at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale after fetching $1,000 as a weanling. He has earned more than A$150,000 in prize-money.

Adding to a great day on Friday at Newcastle for Karaka graduates, the A$125,000 Group 3 Yarraman Park Tibbie Stakes (1350m) was taken out by another horse who went through the Karaka sale ring. Spirit Bird (NZ) (Savabeel) was offered by Brighthill Farm at the 2014 Premier Sale but didn’t meet her $120,000 reserve.

She has now had 16 starts for owner-breeder Neven Botica, winning twice and earning more than A$280,000 in stakes.