VRC Derby for Sangster (NZ) and Ready to Run Sale

Sangster has fulfilled a year long plan for his owners after producing a brave run to win one of Australia's premier races, the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

A graduate of the Ready to Run Sale, Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel x Quinta Special) is the Sale's eleventh Group 1 winner in the last five seasons. He is the Sale's third derby winner since 2010. He joins the likes of Military Move (NZ) (Volksraad) who won the New Zealand Derby last season and Shootoff (NZ) (Duelled) who took the Queensland Derby in June.

New Zealand bred horses have an excellent record in the VRC Derby winning five of the last six runnings of the A$1.5 million feature with Efficient (Zabeel), Kibbutz (Golan) Monaco Consul (High Chaparral) and the late Lion Tamer (Storming Home) all victorious.  

Prepared by the New Zealand trainer Trent Busuttin, Sangster showed his class and stamina when running out every inch of the gruelling 2500 metre feature. Hitting the front at the top of the Flemington straight, he held off the heavy favourite Manawanui (Oratorio), Sabrage (Charge Forward) and the Darley raced Induna (Elusive Quality) in a brave display to win by a head.

"He was three deep the whole way and I thought he had no chance," said Busuttin. When he hit the front in the straight I just stayed quiet, I couldn't yell until the 100 metre mark, and then Induna came at him.

Ready to Run graduate Sangster (NZ) holds off Induna to win the Group 1 VRC Derby

"I couldn't even give thought to being run down again but the horse dug deep and held on, it was a great win."

A $19,000 purchase from New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale, Trent bought the horse with a plan to target the feature staying races.

"We went to the Ready to Run Sale looking for a staying type and we liked the horse. He had the right pedigree and fit our budget so we purchased him.

"He was a late October foal and he thought he would make a nice Christmas three-year-old so we gelded him and sent him to the paddock. However, he just improved and matured so fast that he ended up starting at two and won his debut.

"We brought him to Australia in August to get him settled with the race in mind and the entire preparation has gone very smoothly. His form line was good coming into the race but we had our share of bad luck leading into the Derby as we were unlucky in a few of his races.

"He followed a very similar path to the race as Lion Tamer did last year and Murray Baker gave us plenty of advise, as did Roger James.

"The horse is coming home now for a well earned break. We would love to take him to Singapore for the Singapore International Cup next year as it is a $3 million race. It also isn't until May which will give him a big break in the paddock.

"The dream is to be back here for the Melbourne Cup next year, he is qualified now so we will see how he progresses.

Winning jockey Hugh Bowman, who won the VRC Derby on Lion Tamer (NZ) last year, paid the ultimate compliment to the kiwis after race.

"I'd like to take up New Zealand residency," joked Bowman. "It's a terrific thrill and it's the cream of the crop when it comes to racing in Australia."

Bred by Emblem Ltd, Sangster was purchased by Trent Busuttin from Kilgravin Lodge for $19,000 at the 2010 Ready to Run Sale. He has now won over $1 million in stakes earnings.

Sangster is the second Group 1 winner for his sire Savabeel who saw Scarlett Lady win the Queensland Oaks last season. He will be shooting for the VRC Derby/Melbourne Cup double on Tuesday, with his son Tullamore contesting the $6 million race. To view Savabeel's 16 lots in the Ready to Run Sale, click here.