This month marks New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds – an event that has become a 'must attend' for Australasia's and Asia's leading trainers and buyers.
On 21 & 22 November, clients will have
the opportunity to inspect the progeny of 110 varied sires with each stallion profile
offering unique value. It was only a short few years ago that many were
recruited into the rosters of leading studs and now we are seeing their first
crops come through the sale ring and hit the racetracks.
Earlier this year at the National Yearling Sales Series, several first season sires made a big impression and that trend is set to continue with their first crop of two-year-olds on offer at the Ready to Run Sale.
Following in his Champion Sire's footsteps, Sacred Falls (NZ) (O'Reilly) has replicated his Group One success on the racetrack with leading results in the sale ring. With 42 of his first crop yearlings sold at Book 1, buyers were attracted to the quality product paying an average of $121,500. Overall, Waikato Stud's Sacred Falls was the leading first season sire by aggregate at Karaka 2018.
Leading the way by average, it was Coolmore Stud's young recruit Rubick (AUS) (Encosta de Lago). His progeny sold in Book 1 for up to $320,000 and bolstered his position as the overall leading first season sire by average ($150,000). He has also sired two stakes performers in Australia.
Newgate Farm's Deep Field (AUS) (Northern Meteor) was also to the fore when eight of his progeny sold in Book 1 at an average price of $141,875 – the highest average by a first season sire in Book 1.
With a hot sire line, the son of high-class Invincible Spirit, Charm Spirit (IRE), proved just that at Karaka. His progeny sold for up to $400,000 in Book 1, and he was the leading first season sire in Book 2 with seven of his yearlings selling at average price of $42,857. He has also sired two stakes performers in the northern hemisphere.
These four sires have proven popular and we
can expect their progeny to be in demand again. Sacred Falls will have nine
two-year-olds including Lot 435 who is a three-quarter brother to Hong Kong
Derby Trial winner Unique Jewellery and Lot 436 who is a sister to dual Group
One winner Maco'reilly.
Rubick will have five sons catalogued including Lot 21 who is a half-brother to Group Two-winning Hong Kong sprinter Beat the Clock and Lot 371 who is out of a half-sister to Victorian Group Three performer Spirited Eagle.
Deep Field will have eight lots on offer at the Sale including Lot 215 who is half-brother to Group winner Valpolicella and Lot 340 who is a half-brother to Group One VRC Oaks and Vinery Stud Stakes winner Faint Perfume.
Buyers will have the opportunity to secure seven two-year-olds by Charm Spirit including Lot 49 who is a half-brother to Group Three winner Kingsguard (NZ) and Lot 401 who is the second foal out of Group Two winner and Group One performer Chaparrone (NZ).
While the sale ring has showcased some impressive early results for first season sires, the Ready to Run Sale will also feature a selection of second season sires with spring three-year-olds earning early racing status.
Windsor Park Stud's Shamexpress (NZ)
(O'Reilly) was the leading first season sire in New Zealand in 2017-18 and he
is again leading the second season sires' table. With 11 runners so far this
season, three have stepped out for a win including Cyber Attack (NZ) who scored
his first black-type win in the El Roca Trophy and joins two other stakes
performers sired by Shamexpress.
The European-bred Dawn Approach (IRE) (New Approach) follows closely in behind with two starters for one winner in Dawn Patrol (NZ) who is unbeaten from two starts. Having shuttled between Darley Stud's Ireland and Australia stations, Dawn Approach is the sire of 15 stakes performers in both hemispheres.
Across the Tasman, the son of Northern Meteor, Zoustar (AUS), topped the leading first season sires' table in Australia in 2017-18 and is again making a clear lead this season. From 43 runners he has sired 15 winners including dual Group Three winner Sunlight, Group Two Run to the Rose victor Lean Mean Machine and his most recent Group winner Charge.
Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral) and Spirit of Boom (AUS) (Sequalo) have featured among the leading second season sires' table in both New Zealand and Australia. This season Dundeel sired Lincoln Falls to win on debut in New Zealand while Spirit of Boom is the sire of Spirits Aubeer who has won his last two consecutive starts here.
In Australia, Dundeel has produced eight winners from 22 runners so far this season including Dealmaker who was runner up in the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes while Spirit of Boom has sired 10 winners from 39 individual starters including Champagne Boom who won impressively on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes.
These five leading second season sires will each have representation at the Ready to Run Sale. Shamexpress, who topped an Australian two-year-old sale this year, will have 16 two-year-olds including Lot 80 who is out of a half-sister to Group One winner The Party Sand (NZ) and Lot 324 who is out of a sister to Group Two winner Te Akau Rose (NZ).
Dawn Approach will have five lots on offer including Lot 120 who is out of half-sister to Group One winner Velocitea (NZ) and Lot 126 who is out of a winning Darci Brahma mare and half-sister to the stakes-winning Zabeel filly Heat Haze.
Dundeel will be represented at the Sale by three horses with Lot 115, a colt from the family of American Champion 3YO Afleet Alex; Lot 378, a direct descendant from New Zealand Filly of the Year Tri Belle (NZ); and Lot 430, a colt out of a half-sister to stakes winner Cathay Lady.
Zoustar will have a colt who is out of a
half-sister to four-time Group One winner Volkstok'n'barrell (NZ) (Lot 372)
while Spirit of Boom will also have a colt who is a half-brother to four
winners in Australia (Lot 157).
With an exciting selection of two-year-olds that have been expertly prepared by the best Ready to Run vendors in the country, and a successful two days of Breeze Ups at Te Rapa, make sure you view the line-up of 445 quality two-year-olds.
We look forward to welcoming you at Karaka on 21 & 22 November.
