Spotlight Shines on Emerging Ready to Run Talent

With their progeny starting to light up racetracks across Australasia and further afield, the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November gives buyers the perfect opportunity to get on board with the early crops of exciting up-and-coming stallion talent.

 

Almanzor 

Ever since he first set foot on New Zealand soil at the beginning of the 2018 breeding season, all eyes have been on Almanzor.

Cambridge Stud’s headline shuttle stallion retired to stud with an outstanding race record behind him – winning eight of his 11 starts, including the Group One Prix du Jockey Club (2100m), Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) and British Champion Stakes (2000m) against stellar fields.

Interest and anticipation have only grown since then, and Almanzor’s first crop of yearlings performed outstandingly well at Karaka earlier this year – earning a total of $8.13 million for 42 yearlings sold, with an average price of $193,571 that ranked second only behind champion sire Savabeel.

Almanzor’s first northern hemisphere two-year-olds have enjoyed immediate success, with five early winners across France, the USA and the UK.

His first New Zealand runner, Gibraltar Rising (NZ), also caught the eye in the opening two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui in September. After losing almost 10 lengths coming extremely wide around the home turn, he charged home to finish a remarkably close third.

There are seven two-year-olds by Almanzor in the 2021 Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including:

• Lot 283, who is a half-brother to the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) winner Stella Di Paco (NZ) (Paco Boy).
• Lot 285, the first foal out of Savvy Dreams (NZ) (Savabeel), who placed in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Group Three Lowland Stakes (2100m). Savvy Dreams is also a three-quarter-sister to Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel), who won last season’s Listed El Roca Trophy (1200m). This is also the family of Group One performer Octapussy (Octagonal), who is the dam of the high-class mares Pussy Willow (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Pussy O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly), while another relative is the top-quality racehorse and broodmare Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom).

 

Belardo 

Haunui Farm shuttler Belardo was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire in 2020-21, siring six winners in his first southern hemisphere crop including Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) winner Avonallo (NZ), Group Two placegetter Fonsalette (NZ) and Listed placegetter Yeaboi (NZ).

Belardo’s first European crop was even more potent, featuring 36 winners from 72 runners including Group winners Isabella Giles, Lullaby Moon and Elysium and the Listed winner Belloccio.

Belardo himself was a superb Group One Lockinge Stakes (1600m) winner as a four-year-old, so there could still be much more to come from his progeny as they mature over the next few seasons.

Eight sons of Belardo will go under the hammer during the Ready to Run Sale this November, including:

• Lot 136, a Karaka Million Series-nominated colt whose dam is a half-sister to the dam of Belardo’s first Kiwi black-type winner, Avonallo (NZ).
• Lot 257, whose dam Que Sera (NZ) (Daggers Drawn) placed at Listed level and is a three-quarter-sister to the Group One winner Iflooxcouldkill (NZ) (Daggers Drawn). This gelding also holds a Karaka Million nomination.

 

Capitalist 

Himself a superb winner of the Group One Golden Slipper (1200m) and more than A$3.5 million in stakes as a two-year-old, Newgate Farm stallion Capitalist made a similarly spectacular first impression with his maiden crop of juvenile progeny.

Now commanding a service fee of A$99,000, Capitalist sired 24 winners from 74 runners in his first crop last season, amassing over A$3.7 million in stakes. His four stakes winners included Group One winner Captivant, while he was also represented by another seven black-type placegetters including the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) runner-up Sneaky Shark.

Two members of Capitalist’s eagerly anticipated second two-year-old crop will go through the ring during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, and the dams of both Lot 36 and Lot 103 are half-sisters to European Group One performers.

 

Contributer 

Mapperley Stud’s Contributer was a top-flight performer in his own right on the racetrack, reaching the pinnacle in his five-year-old season with Group One victories in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (2000m).

So it was no surprise to see his first progeny come into their own at the age of three last season, stepping up to the big time with Lion’s Roar (NZ) winning the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Llanacord (NZ) capturing the Group Two Lowland Stakes (2100m) and placing in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Contributer finished the 2020-21 term as New Zealand’s leading second-season sire.

The sire of 32 winners overall from 60 runners, with that Group One pair ably supported by another three stakes placegetters, Contributer has earned a justified service fee increase from $10,000 to $22,000.

There will be 10 two-year-olds by Contributer available to buyers during the 2021 Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 212, out of a half-sister to the highly talented Francaletta (NZ) (High Chaparral), who won six races – four in succession – including the Group Three Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). She also showed her quality in Sydney with a placing in the Group Two Guy Walter Stakes (1400m). Another half-sibling, Asset (Marju), placed in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot.
• Lot 270, whose dam is a half-sister to the Group One Blue Diamond (1200m) winner Sleek Chassis (Flying Spur).

 

El Roca 

Fastnet Rock’s talented son El Roca was a stakes winner in both New Zealand and Australia, and he also placed in the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m). Since retiring to Westbury Stud, he has been represented by 70 winners from 128 runners.

Travelling Light (NZ) is the headline act with a Group One victory in the Levin Classic (1600m) and three further Group One placings, while Ima Roca Bee (NZ) won the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) in July. Another five of his progeny have placed at stakes level.

El Roca is the sire of seven two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including:

• Lot 54, out of a full-sister to Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Inaflury (NZ) (Zabeel).
• Lot 86, whose dam is a half-sister to four stakes performers including Listed winner Seraphim (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) and Group One placegetter Uberalles (NZ) (Giant’s Causeway). Their dam is the champion mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm).

 

Hellbent 

A son of I Am Invincible, Hellbent retired to Yarraman Park to stand alongside his champion sire at the end of a 23-start career that featured seven wins including the Group One William Reid Stakes (1200m).

A significant buzz has surrounded the first progeny of Hellbent, who sold for up to $500,000 as yearlings and are now two-year-olds.

Four of them will be available to buyers at the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 304 – a colt out of the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) winner and three-time Group One placegetter Sister Madly (Redoute’s Choice). As well as having her own high-class racetrack credentials, Sister Madly is a half-sister to champion Hong Kong sprinter Silent Witness (El Moxie).

 

Kermadec (NZ) 

Himself a Karaka graduate – bought from Wentwood Grange’s 2013 Premier Sale draft for $260,000 by Mulcaster Bloodstock – Kermadec (NZ) won four races including the Group One Doncaster Mile (1600m) and George Main Stakes (1600m). He earned more than $2.89 million in stakes.

Now standing at Darley Stud, Kermadec has sired 32 winners from 66 runners in his first crop, headed by last season’s Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Flight Stakes (1600m) heroine Montefilia.

Himself being a son of the globally influential Teofilo, Kermadec’s influence is likely to grow as his progeny mature. Buyers have the chance to get on board with a member of this season’s two-year-old crop at the Ready to Run Sale – Lot 34, a colt out of a full-sister to the Group Three Manfred Stakes (1200m) winner Tin Hat (Helmet), who later had success in Hong Kong under the name Beauty Rush.

 

Merchant Navy 

Another high-class sprinter among Australia’s stallion ranks, Merchant Navy had just 10 starts for seven wins including the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot and the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

Another sire whose oldest progeny are now two-year-olds, Merchant Navy’s yearlings have sold for up to $500,000 and made a highly favourable early impression.

Two of his progeny feature in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including Lot 52, whose dam Bel Mer (Bel Esprit) won the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville and placed in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. Bel Mer is the dam of six winners from eight foals to race, including the Listed winner All Too Royal (All Too Hard).

 

Preferment (NZ) 

Purchased for $190,000 by Chris Waller Racing from Cambridge Stud’s draft at the 2013 Premier Sale, Preferment (NZ) became a top-class performer in Australia with Group One victories in the Victoria Derby (2500m), Turnbull Stakes (2000m), Australian Cup (2000m) and Tancred Stakes (2400m). He was Champion Stayer in Australia in 2015-16.

The son of super-sire Zabeel (NZ) now stands at Brighthill Farm for a service fee of $9,500. His oldest progeny are now three-year-olds and – just like their sire – expected to come into their own as they start to step out over classic distances. His yearlings have sold for up to $280,000 at Karaka.

Two colts by Preferment will go through the Karaka sale ring during the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 32, whose dam Zaperb (NZ) (Volksraad) placed in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m).

 

Proisir 

Rich Hill Stud’s Proisir has hit headlines in recent seasons through the likes of the ultra-talented Levante (NZ), and his progeny overall number 68 winners from 141 runners to date with six individual black-type winners.

Proisir is off to a superb start to the 2021-22 season with the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m) victory of Soldier Boy (NZ), while across the Tasman, Riodini (NZ) has finished second in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and Group One George Main Stakes (1600m) in recent weeks. Prior to relocating to Sydney, Riodini was previously a Group Three winner and Group One placegetter in New Zealand.

Four progeny of Proisir will feature at the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 318, who is a half-brother to the multiple Group Three winner Supreme Heights (NZ) (Jimmy Choux).

 

Ribchester 

Haunui Farm lost the services of their long-serving shuttle stallion Iffraaj a couple of years ago, but they may have found an ideal replacement in the form of his son, Ribchester.

The winner of the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m), Lockinge Stakes (1600m), Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) and Prix du Moulin (1600m), Ribchester was Europe’s Champion Older Male Miler in 2017.

After initially shuttling to Australia in 2018 and 2019, Ribchester relocated across the Tasman and took up duties at Haunui Farm for a $15,000 service fee.

His first crop of northern hemisphere two-year-olds has produced 12 winners from 49 runners, including three-race winner and Woodcote Stakes (1200m) runner-up Flaming Rib.

Buyers will have access to two members of Ribchester’s maiden southern hemisphere crop during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November, including Lot 43, whose dam is a half-sister to Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel) and Group Two winner and sire Guillotine (NZ) (Montjeu).

 

Satono Aladdin 

An outstanding racehorse who won the Group One Yasuda Kinen (1600m) in a blistering time of 1:31.5, Satono Aladdin brought the sought-after bloodlines of Japanese titan Deep Impact to New Zealand when he started shuttling to Rich Hill Stud in 2018.

He missed the 2020 season due to travel complications arising from COVID-19, but has made a welcome return to Rich Hill this spring at a service fee of $12,500.

Satono Aladdin’s first Japanese runners have already yielded seven two-year-old winners this season, and his progeny in this part of the world have sold for up to $360,000 at Karaka.

Eight of his two-year-olds will be offered at the Ready to Run Sale, including:

• Lot 45, out of a half-sister to the quality American Grade Two winner and Grade One performer Manitoulin (Awesome Again).
• Lot 233, whose dam is a half-sister to dual Group One winner Littorio (Bellotto) and the Group Three winner Camino Rocoso (NZ) (Shocking).

 

Sweynesse 

Novara Park’s Sweynesse was a Group One placegetter on the racetrack in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Randwick Guineas (1600m), and he quickly made an impact at stud, claiming New Zealand’s first-season sire championship for the 2019-20 season.

Standing for a 2021 service fee of $9,000, Sweynesse is the sire of 15 winners from 52 runners, including the Group Two Doomben Roses (2000m) winner Only Words (NZ), Group Three winner Bonita Aurelia (NZ), Listed winner Brix (NZ), and three other stakes performers including the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) third placegetter Signora Nera (NZ).

Three of Sweynesse’s progeny will be offered during the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 18, a full-brother to last season’s dual Group Three placegetter Explosively (NZ) (Sweynesse). The pair’s dam Ultra Explosive (NZ) (Darci Brahma) is a half-sister to the dams of Derby winners Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) and Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc De Cambes).

 

Telperion 

Westbury Stud’s Telperion raced only six times but showed real X-factor, winning the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) along with a second placing in the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and a fourth in the Group One Golden Slipper (1200m).

A half-brother to three stakes performers including Group One star Kementari (Lonhro), Telperion retired to stud in 2017 and stands for a service fee of $7,500 this year.

He has already made an impression from just a handful of first-crop runners, with Stormy (NZ) winning two races including the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). The only defeat of his three-start career came in the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m), where he ran second behind top filly Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), with subsequent Group One winner Sword Of State (Snitzel) third.

Telperion is the sire of five two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including Lot 4, whose dam is a half-sister to the Sha Tin Vase (1200m) winner and Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) placegetter Captain Sweet (Fastnet Rock). Lot 259 is closely related to the Group One winners Legs (NZ) (Pins) and Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly).

 

Time Test 

Dubawi’s son Time Test already had a reputation when he started shuttling to Little Avondale Stud in 2018, courtesy of a record-breaking victory in Royal Ascot’s Group Three Tercentenary Stakes (2000m) and multiple Group One placings. But his stocks have risen further and further since his first northern hemisphere two-year-olds started setting foot on the racetrack.

Time Test has sired seven winners to date in that first juvenile crop, three of them at stakes level. Romantic Time won the Group Three Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes (1200m), Rocchigiani captured the Group Three Renate und Albrecht Woeste Zukunftsrennen (1400m), and Tardis scored in the Listed St Hugh’s Stakes (1000m).

Another two of his progeny have placed at black-type level, including Sunset Shiraz, who finished an outstanding third in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes (1400m) and was also second in the Group Two Debutante Stakes (1400m).

Time Test stands for a service fee of $8,500, and his progeny have sold for up to $220,000 at Karaka.

The Ready to Run Sale will give buyers access to nine members of Time Test’s first New Zealand two-year-old crop, including:

• Lot 19, out of a three-quarter-sister to the Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) winner Star Rolling (Casino Prince).
• Lot 97, a half-brother to three stakes performers including Group One winner MacO’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly).
• Lot 135, out of the stakes-winning American mare Megan’s Tough Love (Rahy).

 

Turn Me Loose (NZ) 

Turn Me Loose (NZ) is an exciting Group One-winning son of high-profile sire Iffraaj who stands at Windsor Park Stud for a service fee of $15,000.

The sire of five individual winners to date, his oldest progeny are now three-year-olds headed by stakes winner Turn The Ace (NZ) who took out the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m) last season. Also by Turn Me Loose is exciting two-year-old Wessex who won the $15,000 Transport Mechanical Waharoa Limited 100 last weekend.

There are seven progeny by Turn Me Loose offered at this year’s Ready to Run Sale including Lot 117, a Karaka Million eligible colt out of stakes-placed mare Finishing School. This lot is a half-brother to stakes winners Prom Queen (NZ) (Super Easy) and Swiss Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park). Lot 258 is from Sir Peter Vela’s blue-blooded Richebourg family, with stars Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm), Romanee Conti (NZ) (Sir Tristram, Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) and Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi) all featured in the pedigree.

 

Vadamos 

Rich Hill Stud’s Vadamos is a son of the hugely influential Monsun, whose 113 stakes-winning progeny include three Melbourne Cup (3200m) winners. Vadamos himself won eight races from 20 starts including the Group One Prix du Moulin (1600m), and he was a close fourth in the Cox Plate (2040m) and Emirates Stakes (2000m).

Vadamos started shuttling to New Zealand in 2017, and his oldest progeny are now three-year-olds – headed by the exciting filly Art De Triomphe (NZ), who has won three of her five starts including a three-length romp in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).

Overall, Vadamos has sired 42 winners to date with three black-type performers, including the Group Three York Acomb Stakes (1400m) runner-up Spycatcher.

Two sons of Vadamos will be offered at the Ready to Run Sale, including Lot 25, whose dam Vercors (NZ) (Catbird) won the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). Vercors is the dam of five foals to race, all winners including the Listed-placed Vichy (NZ) (Cape Blanco). Vercors is also a half-sister to the highly talented Group One performer Hasselhoof (NZ) (Tavistock).

 

War Decree 

An exciting addition to South Island stallion ranks, War Decree was a Group Two winner of the Vintage Stakes (1400m) at Goodwood among an 11-start, three-win career.

Standing at Inglewood Stud for a service fee of $4,500, War Decree commenced stud duties in New Zealand in 2018 and his oldest progeny are now two-year-olds. He sired a recent trial winner with an unnamed colt at Te Rapa on August 16.

War Decree has three sons among the catalogue for the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including Lot 67, a close relative to Group One performer and sire Basim (Capote).

 

With plenty of quality bloodlines and exciting potential on offer, this year’s catalogue also features a number up-and-coming talent in Caravaggio, Churchill, Derryn, Mongolian Khan, Pride of Dubai, Rageese, Shamexpress, Tarzino (NZ), Tivaci, Vanbrugh and Wrote.

Another benefit of the Ready to Run Sale is the opportunity to secure lots that are eligible for several bonus schemes including the Karaka Million Series where there are 29 eligible horses. In addition, there are five fillies nominated for the Pearl Series, 53 BOBS eligible horses, eight Super VOBIS nominated horses and two VOBIS Sires eligible two-year-olds and one QTIS qualified juvenile.

For the second year, NZB will again be offering extended Breeze Up clips including additional footage prior to the 200 metre mark, with the last 200 metres of their work also filmed and timed. Breeze Ups will be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on 11 and 12 October.

View the full selection of sires online here.

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday 11 & Tuesday 12 October – Breeze Ups at Te Rapa Racecourse

Wednesday 17 & Thursday 18 November - NZB’s Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds at Karaka with online bidding available.