ANZ Bloodstock News

New Zealand Bloodstock unveil quality-packed Ready To Run catalogue

Expectations high after record-breaking 2023 edition of the successful Karaka juvenile sale

A total of 404 ‘quality’ two-year-olds have been catalogued for the 2024 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale which will begin its two-day run at Karaka on November 20.

Last year’s edition of the sale saw records smashed across the board, with the total aggregate increasing by 39 per cent to over $35.1 million and no less than 12 lots selling for $500,000 or more. Meanwhile, the average closed at $156,031, an increase of 21 per cent on the figure recorded at the 2022 edition of the sale. 

During the 2023 renewal a record top price was recorded when a colt by Star Turn (Star Witness) fetched $825,000 and, adding to the sale’s lofty reputation, the youngster, now known as Megastar Heart, subsequently showed his prowess when triumphing in June’s Oxlade Stakes (Listed, 1300m) at Eagle Farm.

Kane Jones, bloodstock sales manager at New Zealand Bloodstock, told ANZ Bloodstock News that after the huge success of last year’s sale, the auction house resisted the temptation to make the catalogue bigger. 

“At last year’s sale all the stars aligned and it really was a sale for the ages. We had discussed in house, off the back of last year’s sale, the numbers this year could have crept up a little bit, but I think landing on around 400 is perfect,” he said. 

“The two-year-olds we have compiled are a great combination of quality and quantity. I have seen a number of these horses as weanlings and yearlings and we are thrilled with the quality on offer, there are some lovely horses there and a number of really well-related horses as well.

“We have had horses bred and raised specifically for this sale and that goes for the pinhooks as well. The pinhookers have really stepped up again and upped the ante again, the quality they have been buying is just outstanding.”

The 2024 Ready to Run Sale catalogue features the progeny of 101 of the biggest names in not just the stallion ranks of Australasia, but globally, including sons and daughters of proven sires such as Savabeel (Zabeel), Frankel (Galileo), I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), Deep Field (Northern Meteor), Proisir (Choisir) and Written Tycoon (Iglesia), to name a small few. 

The star-studded catalogue also features 29 siblings to stakes winners, including a brother to Sunday’s Selangor Gold Cup (Listed, 1600m) winner Antipodean (Derryn) and a colt by U S Navy (War Front), who is a half-brother to multiple Group 1-winning stallion Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj).

Woburn Farm will offer a brother to Singapore champion Hard Too Think (All Too Hard), a brother to stakes winner Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel) will also go under the hammer, and a Hanseatic (Street Boss) gelding, a half-brother to Group 1 winner Bella Vella (Commands) is among the lots catalogued by Kiltannon Stables.

The quality-stacked catalogue also features close relations to the likes of Beau Dazzler (Ardrossan), Verry Elleegant (Zed), Lion’s Roar (Contributer), Excelida (Exceed And Excel), Mary Shan (Almanzor), Irish Legacy (I Am Invincible), Coventina Bay (Shamexpress), Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega) and Supera (Savabeel).

The record of the sale speaks for itself. In the last five seasons alone, graduates of the auction have won 29 Group 1 races and 117 stakes races. Sale graduates have made their mark in Asia with Hong Kong’s marquee pair of Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro) and Lucky Sweynesse (Sweynesse) both unearthed at the sale, while Mr Brightside (Bullbars), a $13 million earner in Australia, was also sourced at the sale. 

This year the sales reputation has been added to courtesy of the aforementioned Megastar Heart, while the Warmonger (War Decree), the runaway winner of last season’s Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), was bought for $165,000 at the 2022 edition, the same year New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Pulchritudinous (Wrote), who has been subsequently sold and joined the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, was offered. 

“We always say it is the number one sale of its kind worldwide and I think the quality of the graduates year in year out are just testament to that,” said Jones. “We’ve long spoken about Golden Sixty and Lucky Sweynesse up in Hong Kong, Mr Brightside and the graduates are being added to.

“Last year’s runaway Queensland Derby winner Warmonger and Pulchritudinous who won the New Zealand Oaks last season and was sold to Australia for a large sum are just some examples of the amazing quality that this sale produces.”

In the past, the sale has been a happy hunting ground for all Asian jurisdictions. In 2023, buyers from Hong Kong spent over $16.5 million on 69 lots, making up a huge 47.5 per cent of the market share.

One market the sale served for a long time was buyers from Singapore, but with time called on racing in the Lion City New Zealand Bloodstocks managing director Andrew Seabrook said he and his team have been working hard to lure in buyers from emerging markets. 

“Our bloodstock team are working hard canvassing in Australia, Hong Kong, Europe and although we may have lost Singapore, we have built strong relationships with emerging markets like Malaysia, China and Korea,” he said. 

“We’ve got a big job to match last year’s record Sale, but with the calibre of horses assembled in this year’s catalogue, we are certainly heading in the right direction. 

“We’ve had a huge amount of interest in the Sale already, people are itching to get back to Karaka. It’s an exciting time and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the best sale of its kind.”

More than two dozen of the two-year-olds in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue are eligible for the lucrative Karaka Millions Series, while any horse purchased at this sale can compete in New Zealand’s brand-new $3.5 million race, the NZB Kiwi (1500m). The three-year-old showpiece will be run at Ellerslie every March.

Selling will start at Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on November 20 and 21, with breeze-ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on October 21 and 22.

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.

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