It’s no surprise, but Savabeel set to shine at NZB’s Ready to Run Sale
The numbers tell the story and it is clear that world events of 2020 have touched the New Zealand horseracing and breeding scene in a major way.
Apart from the 2016 edition of the annual NZB Ready to Run Sale, which attracted 552 lots, the normal participation rate is around the 400 to 450 mark. However, along with other industries, the New Zealand bloodstock industry has not been able to escape the effects of the coronavirus and this year the catalog (before withdrawals) sees a dramatic reduction to 311.
A few days out, the final offering will likely be close to 250 which has resulted in the auctioneers pushing the daily start times back two hours to 1pm New Zealand time.
Another change from years past is that much of the international interest will be conducted via New Zealand Bloodstock’s online digital platform, such is the effect of very limited international travel. For the same reason, New Zealand-based bloodstock agents might also be busier, acting on behalf of Australian and Asian agents and clients.
Ninety sires are represented of which 48 are New Zealand-based and 56 lots were foaled in Australia.
Reliable Man (Dalakhani), with 13 lots is the most represented followed by Redwood (High Chaparral) with 11. Savabeel (Zabeel) and El Roca (Fastnet Rock) each have ten lots while Tavistock (Montjeu), Tarzino (Tavistock) and Telperion (Street Cry) have eight apiece.
With seven lots are Per Incanto (Street Cry), Showcasing (Oasis Dream), Wrote (High Chaparral) and Shamexpress (O’Reilly). Ocean Park (Thorn Park), Belardo (Lope De Vega) and Contributer (High Chaparral) will be represented by six lots each.
Westbury Stud’s sire line up of Reliable Man (Dalakhani), Redwood, El Roca, Tarzino and Telperion account for 50 lots between them which provides no surprise that Westbury Stud is also the busiest vendor with 32 lots.
The leading vendor on aggregate in 2019, Riversley Park, is scheduled to offer 25 lots, the same number as Kilgravin Lodge. Prima Park is to be represented by 20 lots with Ohukia Lodge (16), Lilywhites Lodge (14), Woburn Farm (11) and Riverrock Farm (10).
As has been the case for what seems like an eternity, Savabeel will again dominate this sale. New Zealand’s multiple champion sire surpassed 100 stakes winners and $100 million in earnings this past season. He continues to be the main attraction. Of his ten lots, any one of them might top the sale.
Even though buyers are more interested in ‘how’ a potential purchase moves, a sharp breeze up time of 10.28 seconds could be of such significance to result in Lot 298 being one of the sale’s stars. The fact that he is out of an O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) half sister to six-times Group 1 winner Sir Slick (Volksraad) as well as twice Group 1 winner Puccini (Encosta De Lago), is a pure bonus.
Lot 3 is a brother-in-blood to Dowager Queen, the winner of three Listed races, ran second in the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) and third in the Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m). This colt breezed up in 10.52 seconds and along with Lot 2 (covered Fbelow) could get the auction off to rousing start.
One of two Savabeel fillies on offer is Lot 83 has residual value being from a winning Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) three-quarter blood sister to five-time Group 1-winning miler Racing To Win (Encosta De Lago). She breezed up in 10.65 seconds.
The late Sacred Falls (O’Reilly) raced to the top of the NZ Sire (earnings) List after his Aegon won last week’s New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). His Lot 184 should command attention as he breezed up in 10.77 seconds. He ranks as a three-quarter brother to dual Group 1 winner Maco’Reilly (O’Reilly). His dam is seven for seven and his granddam Plume (Crested Wave) was Joint NZ Filly of the Year winning a total of 12 races, nine of which were at stakes level including the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
The stock by Per Incanto just keep on winning and two lots, under the same Little Avondale Stud ownership but in different drafts, are Lot 48 (10.31 secs) and Lot 279 (10.88 secs). The former is from a Melbourne winning Exceed and Excel (Danehill) daughter of Auckland Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Royal Tiara (Blanco). The latter is a three-quarter blood brother to Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Dal Cielo.
The New Zealand industry recently lost the services of both Tavistock and Sacred Falls and as is often the case, we get to be reminded what a loss they are. With Sacred Falls it is the unbeaten Group 1 classic winner Aegon. In Tavistock’s case it is the 2020 Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) victor Johnny Get Angry.
Patience will likely be required regarding Lot 305, not only because he is to be offered near the end of the sale, but also because of his bloodlines. However, if you are looking to repeat Johnny Get Angy’s success, this fellow has ‘Derby’ and ‘Cups’ written all over him. His stakes placed dam (a granddaughter of Monsun) won over ground at both Longchamp and Saint-Cloud and she is a half sister the Group 2 Longchamp winner Mouramara, by Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Kahyasi (Ile De Bourbon) who is the dam of Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Mourayan (Alhaarth).
A filly with a breeding future is Lot 49 whose stakes placed dam is a half sister to two stakes winners including the dual Group 2 South African performer Oracy (Zabeel) and from the same family as the brilliant triple Group 1 winning mare Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock).
Mentioned above is Johnny Get Angry and Lot 11 (10.95 secs) is a Reliable Man gelding from a winning sister to the 2020 Victoria Derby winner’s dam, thus providing a serious pedigree update. Their granddam Pavlova (Singspiel) took out the JRA Cup (Listed, 2040m) at Mooney Valley and is herself a half sister to dual Group winner Fubu (Last Tycoon).
Residual value is to be had with Lot 263 (10.78 secs), a filly out of the speedy Listed winner Lady Zafira (Iffraaj) whose dam is a sister to two stakes winners, namely Vitrinite (Lord Ballina) and Exinite (Lord Ballina). Reliable Man is proving to be noted sire of good fillies plus Hypnos, winner of the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (Gr 2, 1600m) on Wednesday.
Lot 210 (10.95 secs), by Redwood, is also in receipt of a timely pedigree update being the half brother to Mascarpone (Shooting To Win), winner of the Legacy Lodge Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Te Rapa last week. This gelding is closely related to Flemington Group 3 winner Bel Danoro (Danehll) as well as Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) victress Sofia Rosa (Makfi).
Yet another to benefit from recent winning stakes form is Lot 30, the half brother to Hypnos who, since the catalogue was printed, has added back-to-back Group victories to his record. Last Wednesday at Riccarton he scored the rich Coupland’s Bakeries Mile and last month preceded that with the Red Badge Sprint (Gr 3, 1400m).
Up and coming sire Sweynesse (Lonhro) has two lots that are both out of Listed stakes winning mares. Lot 284 is a colt from Madonna Mia (Red Clubs), the winner of nine races including the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2100m) and Lot 24 (10.84 secs) is a filly from Post Thyme (Postponed) who won at Listed level at both Caulfield and Ellerslie.
By El Roca, Lot 76 (10.68 secs) is a colt from one the best families in the stud book, having produced three New Zealand Broodmares of the Year. He is a half brother to New Zealand One Thousand Guineas victress La Bella Diosa (So You Think) and two other stakes winners. His dam Star Affair (Star Way) scored in the Travis Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) at Te Rapa. There is black type everywhere on this page.
Consistently among the leading New Zealand sires for a lengthy period, Darci Brahma (Danehill) is closing in on 50 stakes winners, a record some shuttle stallions would be proud to own.
His Lot 40 has an intriguing pedigree, a colt from an Argentinian Group 1 winner Ride The Valkyries (Orpen). The names on his pedigree page may be foreign but there is plenty of black type (including Group 1 level) to back him up.
Lot 291 (10.28 secs) has some lovely bloodlines. Not only is he a half brother to dual Group 2 winner Platinum Princess (Keeper), his dam is by Machiavellian (Mr Prospector) and his grandam is a French Listed winner by Nureyev (Northern Dancer).
One of four lots by Iffraaj, Lot 233 (10.84 secs) is a son of a winning Savabeel mare and grandson of the high class mare Calveen (Canny Lad) whose ten wins included the Easter Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) and five further Group races.
The late Pins (Snippets) has sired 85 stakes winners and Lot 310 (10.50 secs) is the last in the catalogue but certainly worth waiting for. He is a half brother to seven winners including the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Sentimental Miss (Reliable Man). This is the family of Group 1 winners Dracula (Quest For Fame) and Complacent (Authorized).
The northern hemisphere first crop of Belardo are making a big impression with his haul including a Group 2 winner, two Group 2 winners and a Listed winner. His future looks very bright and Lot 278 (10.93 secs) is from a winning Per Incanto sister to Group 2–placed Nahema and to Hammer Down (O’Reilly), winner of the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m).
Both Tivaci and Tarzino have their initial crops on display. The Tivacis sold well this past January and Lot 118 (10.94 secs) is from a Waikato Stud family of copious stakes winners, this colt being out of a winning half sister to two stakes winners and from the same family as Sacred Falls. Tarzino’s Lot 34 is out of Listed Sydney winner Readyor (More Than Ready), herself a half sister to Agister (Mossman), winner of the Eskimo Prince Stakes (Listed, 1300m).
At the close of Cup week the three sires at the head of the Australian Premiership are Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice), Written Tycoon and Exceed And Excel and each has representation here. Written Tycoon, sire of Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) victor Ole Kirk, might be the hottest, currently enjoying a fabulous spring in Melbourne. Lot 126(10.86 secs) is a son of Absolutelyfabulous (Langfuhr), a three-times stakes winner including the Cameron Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m) at Newcastle.
The Everest (1200m) hero Classigue Legend’s sire Not A Single Doubt, is represented by Lot 2 (10.49 secs). This colt, foaled in New Zealand, is out of stakes placed O’Naturelle (O’Reilly), a daughter of Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Naturo (Postponed). Perhaps some fireworks to start the sale?
Exceed And Excel, sire of the Bivouac, brilliant winner of VRC Sprint Classic (Gr 1, 1200m) on Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) day, has two lots on offer. Lot 169 (10.74 secs) is from a twice Melbourne winning Pins three-quarter blood sister to dual Group 1 classic winner Katie Lee (Pins). Lot 243 (11.05 secs) is from a half sister to Group 2 winners Miss Zoe (Zoffany) and Utzon (Nothin’ Leica Dane).
And speaking of the Mackinnon Stakes, Arcadia Queen’s sire Pierro (Lonhro) will be represented by Lot 13 (10.97 secs), a half brother to New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner Rollout The Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor) and by Lot 174 (10.90 secs), a colt from a half sister to four stakes winners including the 2010 winner of the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), Crystal Lily (Stratum).
The stunning New Zealand spring form of Need I Say More (No Nay Never) will no doubt add focus to the stock of his sire who has already sired 26 stakes winners, his oldest southern hemisphere crop being three-year-olds and oldest northern hemisphere crop just four-year-olds. He has two lots up for grabs and both are desirable.
Lot 275 (10.78 secs) is now a half brother to three winners including recent Melbourne (Sandown) winner, Group–placed Succeed Indeed (Akeed Mofeed). His Brisbane–winning dam Lucky Morna (Ferocity) was also Group placed.
Lot 38 (10.51 secs) is a half brother to two winners, grandson of a three-quarter blood sister to Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Vouvray (Zabeel) and closely related to 2019 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner Loire (Redoute’s Choice).
The stock of Zoustar (Northern Meteor) are always very popular at Australasian sales. Sire of the outstanding Sunlight, Lot 31 (10.83 secs) is also a filly from the Saratoga Listed winner Queen Of The Creek (Theatrical) who is a three-quarter sister to the dam of Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) winner Big Brown (Boundary).
The reduced numbers this year may create extra demand and prove a minor blessing to vendors. Certainly there are some gems to be found and there is no doubt that many sold will add to the success of the sale’s excellent history.