A string of successes in recent months has further enhanced the proud record New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale enjoys as a source of racetrack performers across Asia.
Aided by high-profile victories such as by Fay Fay (NZ) (Falkirk) in the 2012 HK-1 Hong Kong Derby and Glorious Days (Hussonet) in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, the Ready to Run Sale has long an esteemed reputation for producing top-class performers at the elite venues of Asian racing. That reputation has only grown in the three or four years since those triumphs.
Leading the way in recent months have been the superstar Singapore pair of Well Done and Debt Collector.
Well Done (NZ) (Falkirk) was purchased for $90,000 from Windsor Park Stud at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale and has won seven races including the Sgp-1 Singapore Derby and Sgp-1 Patron's Bowl.
Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park) was purchased by trainer Cliff Brown for $120,000 from the draft of Prima Park at the 2014 Ready to Run Sale and has rapidly become a headline act of the stable, winning seven races including the Sgp-1 Singapore Guineas, Sgp-1 Kranji Mile and Sgp-1 Raffles Cup.
On the same day that Debt Collector claimed the Raffles Cup, another Ready to Run graduate scored a black-type win of his own in the Sgp-3 El Dorado Classic. It was the sixth win overall and first at stakes level for Bahana (NZ) (Elusive City), who was a $100,000 purchase from Lime Country Thoroughbreds at the 2013 Sale.
Other notable stakes performers include the Sgp-1 Raffles Cup winner Super Ninetyseven (Show A Heart), three-time Singapore stakes winner El Padrino (NZ) (Mr Nancho), Sgp-3 Yew Tee Classic winner City Lad (NZ) (Elusive City), HK-3 January Cup victor Flame Hero (NZ) (Savabeel), Sgp-3 Three Rings Trophy winner Absolutely (NZ) (Coats Choice), Sgp-2 Stewards' Cup winner Titanium (NZ) (Tavistock) and Macau Listed winners Mission Well (NZ) (Elusive City), Bobo So Cute (Savabeel), Sunshine Region (NZ) (One Cool Cat) and Sunshine Kingdom (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
With the 2016 Ready to Run Sale just around the corner, there have also been a number of impressive recent winners in Hong Kong.
Simply Invincible (NZ) (Rios) was a Group 1 winner in New Zealand under his former name Gaultier, and he has won twice in Hong Kong including a decisive two and a half length win in the HK$1,235,000 HKJC Carl F Bucherer Excellent Handicap (1600m) on October 23. In addition to the NZ$147,225 he earned in eight starts in New Zealand, the gelding has now won more than HK$1.69 million in Hong Kong prize-money. He was a $17,500 purchase from Rattray Bloodstock by Upstage Bloodstock at the 2013 Ready to Run Sale.
On the same day, Happy Agility (NZ) (Postponed) left his rivals standing still and raced away to win the HK$840,000 HKJC Zenith Excellent Handicap (1200m) by two and three-quarter lengths. A $220,000 purchase by Ricky Yiu from the draft of Diamond Lodge in 2013, he has now won three races and more than HK$1.85 million.
Another timely Ready to Run performer is Beat the Clock (Hinchinbrook). Purchased by Mr B Mitchell from Prima Park for $200,000 at the 2015 Sale, the three-year-old gelding made his debut in last Sunday's HK$840,000 Canmake Tokyo Handicap (1400m). Ridden by Joao Moreira for trainer John Size, he was prominent throughout the race and asserted his superiority in the straight to win by three lengths.
The 2016 NZB Ready to Run Sale catalogue has attracted 552 two-year-olds. The Sale will be held on 16 & 17 November 2016 at Karaka with selling starting at 10am each day.
The Breeze Ups were held at Te Rapa Racecourse on 17 & 18 October with the youngsters filmed and timed galloping over 200m - Breeze Up clips are now available to view online.
DVD copies of the Breeze Ups are available upon request from reception@nzb.co.nz. Breeze Up clips are also available on the free iPad application.
For catalogue and DVD requests email reception@nzb.co.nz.
