In addition to the growing reputation the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka upholds for its Group 1-winning graduates and rich selection of outstanding young equine athletes, buyers at the Sale can also choose progeny from a cross-section of the very best sires throughout Australasia.
The biggest name among stallions in New Zealand at the moment is undoubtedly the Waikato Stud titanSavabeel, who has achieved clean sweeps of all of the country's stallion awards in the last two seasons with a procession of big-race winners.
Savabeel's progeny were a red-hot commodity at the National Yearling Sales Series earlier this year, with 52 yearlings selling in the Premier Sale for $11,460,000 at an average of $220,385.
The results of Savabeel's progeny at the Ready to Run Sale also speak for themselves, headed by Group 1-winning graduatesSangster(VRC Derby, Waikato International Stakes, Auckland Cup) andHall Of Fame(Levin Classic). Other stakes-winning Savabeel progeny sold through the Ready to Run Sale includeBobo So Cute,Mabeel,Flame HeroandSavvy Nature.
The 2017 Ready to Run Sale will feature six sons of Savabeel.
Haunui Farm'sIffraajhas risen into a position of enormous respect among New Zealand's stallion ranks, thanks in large part to the feats of his Ready to Run Sale progeny. Four of his progeny have gone through the Ready to Run Sale and have gone on to become stakes winners, with two stand-out examples.
Gingernutswas purchased for $42,500 by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis at the 2015 Sale and has so far won six races and $1.2 million. He soared to stardom in the autumn with consecutive wins in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas, Group 1 New Zealand Derby and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas, and he has already produced a spring follow-up with victory in the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate.
Turn Me Loosewas purchased at the 2013 Sale for $52,500 by Todd Hartley, and he went on to win seven races and more than $1.7 million in prizemoney including the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Emirates Stakes and Futurity Stakes. He is now embarking on a stud career of his own at Windsor Park Stud.
Iffraaj's other stakes-winning Ready to Run Sale graduates areMaybe MiamiandListen, while he has also attracted headlines recently with his Group 1 Australian Derby-winning sonJon Snowand the star European milerRibchester.
The Ready to Run Sale catalogue includes seven Iffraaj two-year-olds.
The now Japanese-basedMakfimade a mark with his shuttle season's to Westbury Stud when his NZB Sale graduates claimed back-to-back victories in the Group 1 Australian Oaks withSofia Rosain 2016 andBonnevalin 2017.
New Zealand's reigning Horse of the Year, Bonneval,has won her last six races in a row, all at Group level including the Group 1 NewZealand Oaks, Australian Oaks and most recently the Underwood Stakes. Purchased for $150,000 by Baker Racing at the 2015 Premier Yearling Sale, she has won over $1.7 million in prizemoney so far.
Seven Makfi two-year-olds will be offered at the 2017 Sale.
Darci Brahma is another sire who has been enormously successful with his Ready to Run Sale graduates such asNashville(Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA twice, plus four other Group races),Alibi(Singapore Patron's Bowl),Sunshine KingdomandValbuenaall stakes winners.
Ten of Darci Brahma's progeny will go under the hammer during the 2017 Sale.
Cambridge Stud'sTavistockhas reaped the rewards with four Group 1 winners from his first two crops including the impressiveInfantrywho just completed the Singapore Derby-Kranji Mile double over the weekend. Purchased as a weanling for the low price of $7,000 by Anna Rutten at the 2013National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, he has now won more than S$1.6 million in prizemoney.
Tavistock will have the largest offering with 20 two-year-olds in the 2017 Sale.
The 2017 Ready to Run Sale marks the end of an era, with the last nine two-year-olds by the late champion sireO'Reillyto go through the Karaka ring. O'Reilly has sired 87 stakes winners including Group 1 heroes such asSacred Falls,Silent Achiever,ShamrockerandShamexpress.
The latter is now a sire at Windsor Park Stud, with his 12 two-year-olds from his first crop among the 2017 Ready to Run Sale catalogue. His yearlings sold well at this year's National Yearling Sales Series, with 13 selling in the Premier session for an average of $192,500.
Another rookie sire who impressed at Karaka earlier this year wasJakkalberry, with his yearlings selling for up to $440,000 and earning the spot of leading sire by average in the Select Sale.
Exciting youngsters among the Kiwi stallion ranks includeBurgundywho has already sired stakes winnersDijon BleuandHard Merchandize, andSuper Easywho has been represented by the triple stakes winnerProm Queen.Highly Recommendedhas the dual stakes winnerWaldorfand multiple stakes placedJoyfilly,whileReliable Manhas the Group 1 performerBelle du Nord.
The biggest name among Australian stallions is undoubtedlySnitzel, who topped the Australian premiership last season with an all-time record of A$16.2 million in prizemoney. He also equalled Danehill's single-season record of 26 individual stakes winners in Australia, and set a new record with 35 individual two-year-old winners (three in New Zealand).
He became the first stallion since 1982 to sire a Group 1 two-year-old trifecta in Australia whenInvader,Summer PassageandTrapeze Artistfilled the first three placings in the Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick.
Snitzel will be represented by four two-year-olds at the 2017 Ready to Run Sale.
Following the example of his globally influential sire Danehill,Fastnet Rockhas become a star of both hemispheres. With 28 Group 1 winners he has sired elite two-year-olds such as 2015 Premier Yearling Sale graduateHeroic Valourwho was purchased for $400,000 by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis.
This year, the Ready to Run Sale will include six two-year-olds by Fastnet Rock.
Other outstanding sires who excelled in Australia last season and will be represented at Karaka includeExceed and Excel(three two-year-olds in the catalogue),High Chaparral(four),I Am Invincible(three),Medaglia d'Oro(two),Not a Single Doubt(three),Redoute's Choice(two),Sebring(one), andWritten Tycoon(two).
Every horse entered in the Ready to Run Sale has the opportunity to Breeze Up with the last 200 metres of their work filmed and timed. Breeze-Ups are set to be conducted at Te Rapa Racecourse on 16 & 17 October, and the footage will be available online from 20 October.
New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale will be held on 22 & 23 November with selling commencing at 11am each day.
