High Profile Sires With Dominant Records

Media Release - Wednesday October 10
One of the biggest selling points at the NZB Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds is the sire power of 110 varied stallion profiles, each offering unique value.

Amongst this selection are internationally renowned Group One producers whose high profiles offer buyers the opportunity to capitalise on their sought after progeny. 

Waikato Stud's Savabeel claimed his fourth straight NZ Sires Premiership.Fourteen years have passed since Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill) himself went through the sale ring, topping the 2004 Premier Sale with a price tag of $1.1 million. Retired to The Oaks Stud in 2007, he has been named the Champion Sire in Singapore five times including the last three years in succession. Also the Leading New Zealand Sire of 3YOs in 2015-16, Darci Brahma has sired eight Group One winners in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Australia in the last five seasons. In total, he sired 34 individual stakes winners in those five seasons with a 9% stakes winners to winners ratio.

The sire of current Group One HKJC Centenary Sprint Cup winner D B Pin , who was purchased at the 2014 Premier Sale for $200,000, Darci Brahma will have seven two-year-olds at the Sale including a half-brother to Group Three winner Zilong (Lot 244 ) and a colt who is a brother to four winners including two stakes performers (Lot 313 ).

With foal crops in both northern and southern hemispheres, Exceed and Excel (AUS) (Danehill) commenced stud duties in Australia at Darley Stud in 2004 and shuttled to Great Britain and Ireland. He was crowned the Champion Australian Sire and Leading Sire of 2YOs in 2012-13 while topping the 2YO sires table again in 2014-15. His Group One-winning son Mr Stunning , who sold through the 2014 Premier Sale for $250,000, bolstered his statistics in Hong Kong last season to place him at the top of the Hong Kong Leading Sires table. In the last five seasons he has sired eight Group One winners in both hemispheres and a total of 100 stakes winners for an 11% strike rate of stakes winners to winners.

Exceed and Excel will have two juveniles at the upcoming Sale with a half-brother to Group Three performer Strength (Lot 68 ) and a colt out of stakes-winning mare Secret Liaison whose two foals to race are winners (Lot 238 ).

Coolmore Stud's son of Danehill, Fastnet Rock (AUS), has become a versatile star of both hemispheres having retired to stud in 2005 and shuttled to Ireland in 2010. He has won a multitude of sire awards from Champion Sire in Australia and Hong Kong to Leading Sire of 2YOs in New Zealand and 3YOs in Australia. Fastnet Rock has sired 27 Group One winners in both hemispheres and 112 stakes winners in the last five seasons with a 12% stakes winners to winners ratio.

The sire of New Zealand Champion 2YO Avantage, and $210,000 Premier Sale graduate, Fastnet Rock will be represented by two colts in November with a direct descendant from Group One Queensland Oaks winner Zagalia (Lot 89 ) and a half-brother to dual southern Listed Guineas winner Excelleration (Lot 342 ).

A proven sire of quality sprinter-milers, Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) commenced stud duties in Ireland in 2007. He first came to New Zealand in 2008 and has left eight Group One winners in both hemispheres in the last five seasons. A total of 55 stakes winners have been produced in that same time for a 9% strike rate of stakes winners to winners. His progeny performance secured him the Leading New Zealand Sire of 2YOs title in 2015-16 and 3YOs title in 2014-16 and 2016-17.

Iffraaj sired his first Derby winner when $42,500 Ready to Run Sale graduate Gingernuts scored a brilliant win in the Group One New Zealand Derby, which he followed with a victory in the Group One Rosehill Guineas. He will have eight two-year-olds catalogued in the Sale including a colt out of a half-sister to Vegas Showgirl (Lot 176 ), the dam of world champion Winx , and a brother to Group Two Wellington Guineas performer Star O'Fraaj (Lot 270 ).

The penultimate New Zealand-conceived crops of former Westbury Stud shuttler Makfi (GB) (Dubawi) will be on offer at the Ready to Run Sale with 10 lots going through the ring. Joining the stallion roster in New Zealand and Great Britain in 2011, and now standing in Japan, Makfi has sired four Group One winners and 25 stakes winners in New Zealand, Australia and Europe for a 9% stakes winners to winners ratio.

He is the sire of New Zealand Horse of the Year and Champion Middle Distance horse Bonneval who was purchased at the 2015 Premier Sale for $150,000. Her Group One victories include the New Zealand and Australian Oaks as well as the Underwood Stakes. Makfi's highlight lots at the Sale include a son of dual Group One winner Lotteria (Lot 109 ) and a brother to Group One Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa (Lot 383 ).

Waikato Stud's late sire Pins (AUS) (Snippets) was twice honoured the Centaine Award and he was also Champion Sire in Hong Kong twice. He produced dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon and dual Champion Sprinter Aerovelocity , both graduates of the Karaka sale ring. Pins will be represented at the Sale in November by 13 two-year-olds including a filly out of a sister to Champion Miler in Hong Kong Beauty Flash (Lot 142 ) and a colt from the family of Hong Kong and Singaporean Group One winner Aerovelocity (Lot 258 ).

A son of immortal sire Galileo, European Champion 3YO Miler Rip Van Winkle (IRE) commenced stud duties in Ireland in 2011 and shuttled to Windsor Park Stud that same year. Now a permanent resident of the Cambridge-based nursery, he has sired a Group One winner in the north and a total of 23 stakes winners in both hemispheres from his last four seasons of runners. His stakes winners to winners ratio sits at 8%.

Rip Van Winkle is the sire of a string of recent performers including Ready to Run Sale graduates Te Akau Shark, winner of the Group Three Spring Sprint, and Kingsguard, runner-up in the Group Two Shannon Stakes. He will have a draft of six lots at the Sale including a three-quarter brother to Te Akau Shark (Lot 45 ) and a half-brother to five winners from the family of New Zealand Champion 3YO and Stayer Silent Achiever (Lot 420 ).

Another outstanding Waikato Stud resident, Champion Sire Savabeel (AUS) (Zabeel) claimed his fourth straight New Zealand Sires Premiership with a continuous run of Group performers stepping out each year. Also the winner of the Dewar Award and Centaine Award for the third time, Savabeel has sired 15 Group One winners in the last five seasons including current Group One Livamol Classic winner, Champion 3YO and Karaka graduate Savvy Coup . In total, 61 individual stakes winners in that same time bolstered the sire's 14% stakes winners to winners strike rate.

The sire of Champion Sprinter-Miler in New Zealand Kawi will have 18 two-year-olds set to go through the auction ring including a brother to three stakes winners, including Group One Queensland Derby winner Brambles (Lot 199 ), and a brother to dual Group One winner Costume and stakes performer Masque (Lot 432 ).

A Champion 2YO Colt in Australia, Sebring (AUS) (More Than Ready) commenced breeding duties at Widden Stud in 2009. He was third on the Australian Sires List in 2014-15 and has sired four Group One winners in the last five seasons including five-time Group One winners Dissident and Criterion (NZ) who have both since retired to stud. With 74 individual stakes winners in the same time, Sebring has a 17% stakes winners to winners ratio.

He will have four juveniles at the upcoming Sale including a colt out of Group Two-placed Lady Krovanh (Lot 87 ) and a colt out of winning Encosta de Lago mare Solar Rock from the family of Champion 3YO Colt and Sprinter Fastnet Rock (Lot 260 ).

Haunui Farm's former shuttle sire Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream) first came down from Great Britain in 2011 and made a quick impression topping the Leading New Zealand First Season Sire table in 2014-15. That same season he was named the Leading New Zealand Sire of 2YOs and 29 of his progeny have since gone on to win at stakes level. With a 10% stakes winners to winners ratio, Showcasing has two Group One winners in the northern hemisphere while also producing Singapore Champion 2YO Be Bee , a stakes winner at two and three who was purchased at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale for $250,000.

Showcasing placed second on the Singapore Sires Premiership last season and will have nine two-year-olds at the Sale with highlights such as a half-brother to two stakes performers, including Group Two winner The Justice League (Lot 99 ), and a half-brother to recent stakes winner London Express (Lot 108 ).

With representation from the leading sires in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore, the Ready to Run Sale will also feature the Australian Champion SireSnitzel (AUS) (Redoute's Choice) who has claimed the title two years in a row. He has also topped the Australian Leading Sire of 2YOs and 3YOs for the last two consecutive years. In the last five seasons he has sired 12 Group One winners and a total of 80 stakes winners throughout Australasia and Asia.

With a 14% stakes winners to winners ratio, the Arrowfield Stud sire will have two lots entered in November with a colt out of a three-quarter sister to two Group One winners in Crisp and Why Why Why (Lot 12 ), and a colt out of a sister to two stakes performers including five-time Group winner Here de Angels (Lot 353 ).

The rise to stardom for Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock (NZ) (Montjeu) saw him crowned the Champion Sire in Hong Kong in 2015-16 when represented by Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther . With six crops on the ground, he has sired four Group One winners including Derby winners Tarzino and Tavago , and Guineas winner Volkstok'n'barrell – all of which were sold through the Karaka sale ring. He has also sired a total of 17 stakes winners with a 12% stakes winners to winners ratio.

Tavistock will be represented at the Sale in November by 16 two-year-olds with highlights such as a brother in-blood to four-time Group One winner Volkstok'n'barrell (Lot 412 ), and a half-brother to Group One New Zealand Derby winner Habibi (417 ).

A proven sire of precocious talent, Written Tycoon (AUS) (Iglesia) was the Leading Australian First Season Sire in 2010-11 and lead the way on the Sire of 2YOs table in 2015-16. The Woodside Park Side stallion has sired five Group One winners in the last five seasons, including Karaka graduate Music Magnate . In that same time, Written Tycoon has had 23 individual stakes winners with a 6% stakes winners to winners ratio.

Written Tycoon will have five two-year-olds catalogued in the Sale including a half-brother to two recent winners from the family of Group One Guineas winner Magic Cape (Lot 286 ), and a colt out of winning mare Wantonly from the family of hot sire Shamexpress (Lot 325 ).

You can request a catalogue by emailing reception@nzb.co.nz or view online at www.nzb.co.nz .
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