War Machine (NZ) Back to Best in Harry White

Less than five weeks out from the NZB Ready to Run Sale, one of the star Group One graduates of the world’s leading sale of two-year-olds made a timely return to peak form in the A$240,000 Group Three Harry White Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) was offered by Ardsley Stud at the 2022 edition of the Ready to Run Sale, but he failed to meet his $100,000 reserve. His 21-race career has now produced eight wins, six placings and A$3.56m – 43 times his Ready to Run Sale reserve.

War Machine burst on to the scene last year with four consecutive victories between May and October, including the Group Three BRC Sprint (1350m), the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and the Group Two Gilgai Stakes (1200m).

He went more than a year without a victory following that Gilgai Stakes, but during that time he finished only three and a half lengths from world-champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the A$20m Group One The Everest (1200m). He also placed in the Group Two Australia Stakes (1200m) and the Group Three The Heath (1100m).

War Machine was back at the peak of his powers on Saturday. After settling just behind the leaders for jockey Mark Zahra, he pounced at the top of the straight and threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the field.

The challengers tried their best to close the gap, headed by the A$13m earner Private Eye (Al Maher), but War Machine dug deep and held on tenaciously to win by a head.

“He began well and had the run of the race,” Zahra said. “He just had to hang on for grim death late when the good old horse came at him.”

War Machine is trained by the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

“He’s been a super horse for us,” Ben Hayes said. “He’s been a bit frustrating since winning a few straight. Things haven’t quite gone his way with wide barriers and unsuitable tracks. We had scratched him four times before we found the right race. He had a good run today, a great ride from Mark. It was good to get a class drop into a race like that.

“I was very happy with how he relaxed in behind the speed. He probably had to force a run early, and he hit the lead early, but I loved the way he stuck on and hit the line. I feel we’ve got him back on track and we can target some nice races.

“I would like to see how he pulls up before deciding anything, because we do have the option of coming back in trip or going up in trip. He’s got a lot of options. He’s a good 1400-metre horse, and he’s good down the straight as well. We’ll have a good talk to the ownership group and we’ll make that decision over a nice drink and enjoy the win.”

The 2026 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 18 & 19 November.

Vendor	Ardsley Stud Limited
Purchaser
Breeding	Harry Angel – Caserta
Sale	Lot 152, Karaka 2022 Book 1, Psd (Res $100,000)Lot 45, 2022 Ready to Run Sale, Psd (Res $100,000)
Breeder	MDJ Bloodstock Ltd
Owner	Lindsay Park Bloodstock, R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, Mr N J Griffin, Mrs J S Griffin, Mr G B Robinson, Mr B C Hollow, Mr S W Kay, Ms M A Keating, Mr G Lygoyris, Mrs S Lygoyris, Mr A S Byron, Mr A Williams, Mr K McCaul, Mr J B Hart, Mr M J Davies, Mr D W Wallace, Mr J V Wallace