A bright new talent in Malaysian racing stepped on to the stage at Selangor on Sunday, with Duma (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) making a stylish winning debut in the RM50,000 NZB Ready to Run Sale Trophy (1200m).
Duma was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and was offered by Prima Park at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale, where Esther Quan Hui Lim bought him for $45,000.
Trained by Frank Maynard, Duma won all of his three trials leading into Sunday’s race day debut. The three-year-old was sent out as a clear favourite for the NZB Ready to Run Sale Trophy, and he proceeded to kick off his racing career with a bold and emphatic statement.
Leading rider Ruzaini Supien took up a handy position in third, then set his sights on the two leaders after coming around the home turn.
Despite racing greenly and putting his head to the side down the home straight, Duma burst through in between the leading pair and shot clear, winning by a length and three quarters and clocking 1:11.84 for the 1200 metres.
Duma is by one of the world’s most exciting sires, the multiple Group One-winning Dubawi stallion Too Darn Hot, and is the first foal out of Pencarrow mare Podravina (NZ) (Bel Esprit), who won five races and placed in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Sunday’s runner-up Trees Of Valinor (NZ) (Telperion) was a $55,000 purchase from the 2023 Ready to Run Sale.
Throughout the day, seven of nine winners were graduates of the Karaka Sales. NZB's Director of Business and Development Mike Kneebone and NZTM's Andrew Birch?were in attendance for the feature day.?
“Today was remarkable. It has been at least ten years since Selangor had two restricted maiden races for four-year-olds and younger.
"It was only possible because of the forward thinking by the Selangor Turf Club," commented Kneebone.
Bold Runner (NZ), another 2023 Ready to Run graduate took out the NZB Airfreight Trophy (1200m).
The son of the late Contributer and first foal from the Makfi mare McPhoebe was a $60,000 purchase by Tan Tiang Huat from Riverrock Farm's draft.?
"I was very proud to see so?many young NZB graduates parading. They are a credit to our vendors and NZB,” added Kneebone.
"Our relationship with the Selangor Turf Club goes a long way back and that is extremely important in Asia, to gain trust and support of the clubs.
"The NZB Ready to Run is becoming a remarkable success story."
The 2024 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will be held at Karaka on November 20 and 21 with the Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on 21 & 22 October.
Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via bidonline.nzb.co.nz, plus an extensive online catalogue at?www.nzb.co.nz?that hosts pedigrees, parade videos and photos, breeze-up clips, updates, and important information to assist your buying decisions.
International buyers wishing to physically attend the 2024 Ready to Run Sale can enquire about accommodation options and travel assistance by emailing?travel@nzb.co.nz.
The catalogue for the 2024 Ready to Run Sale can be viewed online?here, or downloaded on the Equineline app for tablets, or Thoroughworks app for mobile.