Super Night for NZ Ready to Run

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale enjoyed a stellar night in Singapore with five winners on the 12-race card including Super Ninetyseven (Show a Heart) taking out the feature Group 3 S$200,000 Committee’s Prize Stakes at Kranji last night.

Super Ninetyseven wins the Group 3 S$200,000 Committee’s Prize Stakes at Kranji last night. Photo courtesy of STC.

The Michael Freedman trained gelding started as favourite on the back of consistent form in his short career that had yielded two previous placings at black-type level.

Ridden by the outstanding Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira, the Ready to Run graduate settled last in the 11-horse field. As the field cornered, Moreira rode for luck as he took his mount along the inside of the track. The field spread wide in the straight and a gap appeared and the four-year-old pounced.

The son of Show a Heart hit the front early in the straight and cruised to the line without challenge for a seemingly effortless two-and-a-quarter-length victory.

“He can be a handful of a horse, but he is definitely improving. He is mentally more mature, and I think he can continue to mentally develop further,” said Freedman.

“Obviously I’d like to now set him for the Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup, but I will have to see how he comes through today’s race first. The Gold Cup is also at the back of my mind as he’s out of a Zabeel mare and I would imagine he can step up to that kind of distance, but it will all depend on how he goes in the first two legs.”

Racing in the same colours as Freedman’s retired star and Karaka graduate Super Easy (Darci Brahma) for owners the Joy N Happiness Stable, Super Ninetyseven took his overall record to six wins from 11 starts and has earned S$509,441 in prizemoney.

Super Ninetyseven becomes the 113th stakes winner for Zabeel as a broodmare sire. His dam, Yabeel, is a daughter of the champion sire and has left six winners including the stakes placed Wabeel (Commands). Yabeel is a half-sister to Cox Plate victor and triple Group 1 winner Solvit (Morcon).

The chestnut gelding was offered at the 2011 Ready to Run Sale by Lyndhurst Farm when purchased by Ms Foo Oi Ling of Singapore for $125,000.

The night got away to a flying start for the Ready to Run Sale with four of the first five races going the way of Sale alumni.

The night continued to improve for New Zealand Bloodstock as Festival graduate Toast’s Angel (Fast ‘n’ Famous) found the line first in race six of the night for expat New Zealand trainer Laurie Laxon, giving Karaka half of the races on the night.

A highlight winner on the night was Rite of Spring (Stavinsky), taking out his second win from as many starts, showing plenty of potential for his owners China Horse Club. He completed a double for his trainer Michael Freedom after the trainers win in the feature race.

A full list of New Zealand Bloodstock winners in Singapore last night is below.