Pedigree Potential – Ready to Run

Sponsored Content - by Tara Madgwick - Monday October 24

The $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) is run at Flemington on Saturday and the time honoured Blue Riband is shaping as an intriguing clash between two outstanding Kiwi-bred contenders in Mr Maestro (NZ) and Sharp ‘n’ Smart (NZ).

The Victoria Derby has been a great showcase for Kiwi-bred staying talent with past winners of the race since 2000 being: Hit the Roof (NZ), Amalfi (NZ), Efficient (NZ), Kibbutz (NZ), Monaco Consul (NZ), Lion Tamer (NZ), Sangster (NZ), Preferment (NZ), Tarzino (NZ) and Johnny Get Angry (NZ).

Mr Maestro (NZ) was a $100,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase - image Grant Courtney

Mr Maestro will be looking to add to the already impressive record of his champion sire Savabeel, who has 11 entries for the NZB Ready to Run Sale on November 16 and 17.

Lot 115 is bred on the exact same cross as Mr Maestro being from a daughter of Rip Van Winkle (IRE), who has a great strike rate with Savabeel – three winners from three runners with Mr Maestro being one of two stakes-winners, the other being Group I winner Embellish.

Offered by Ohukia Lodge, the colt is the first foal of Honor, a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I winner Te Akau Shark and half-sister to Group I winner Pondarosa Miss. He breezed in 10.73 seconds and you can watch him gallop below.

Another obvious highlight lot for Savabeel will be Lot 278 from Riversley Park, a colt from Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa. He breezed in 10.72 seconds and you can watch him below.

Sharp 'n' Smart (NZ) was a $55,000 Karaka Book 2 purchase - image Steve Hart

Sharp ‘n’ Smart staked his claim for Derby glory winning the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last Saturday and his sire Redwood (GB) has 10 entries.

They include Lot 68 from Westbury Stud, a colt from Danish Seaway that is a half-brother to stakes-winner Absalon and importantly is a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Sharp ‘n’ Smart. He breezed in 11.67 seconds well held together and you can watch him below.

The quickest of the Redwood two year-olds to gallop was Lot 20 from Westbury Stud, the half-brother to unbeaten Australian trained mare Norwegian Bliss, who has won six from six for Nathan Doyle. He galloped in 10.63 seconds and you can watch him below.

Bella Nipotina's sire Pride of Dubai has one entry and he's a speed machine like she is! - image Grant Courtney

Under-rated sire Pride of Dubai posted his first Group I winner at Moonee Valley on Saturday with Bella Nipotina scoring a resounding win in the Group I MVRC Manikato Stakes (1200m) and her sire has one entry, but he’s significant as he was the equal second fastest of all horses to gallop.

Lot 260 from Ohukia Lodge is a colt from Sell in May and he is bred on a very similar cross to Bella Nipotina as his dam is by Starcraft, who is the sire of her dam-sire Star Witness. He comes from the prolific Australian Black Type ‘Tennessee’ family that has produced so many Group I winners including Aloha, Malaguerra, Seabrook and Cool Aza Beel. Watch him run below in a sizzling 10.07 seconds!.

Breeze Up clips are now available for all horses and click here to see the full catalogue for the 2022 NZB Ready to Run Sale on November 16 and 17.

Advertisment
More Reading...
New Sprint Star for WA?
Oakland Park's veteran WA sire Sessions is rarely without a good horse to represent him, and the son of Lonhro now has his sixth stakes winner after exciting 3YO galloper Repossession spanked the older horses to win the Listed Beaufine Stakes at Pinjarra Park.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Dubawi Colt from $US8million Mare Wins G1 Coral Eclipse for Coolmore
Blueblood Dubawi colt Delacroix was a beaten favourite in the Group I Epsom Derby when unplaced behind his stablemate Lambourn, but he found his time to shine overnight when scoring a miraculous last to first win in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes (1m2f) at Sandown.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Spring Goals Await Caloundra Cup Winner Half Yours
With spring staying features on their minds, Tony and Calvin McEvoy sent their improving stayer north to Queensland for Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) with instant success as the 4yo gelding Half Yours romped home by four and a half lengths.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Divine Prophet’s Fortunate Kiss Captures Elusive Black Type Win
With nine top five finishes in previous black type races, it was better late than never as 6yo Divine Prophet mare Fortunate Kiss charged along the inside to win the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday – her first black type victory.
Sixth Winner for Anders
First past the post at Wyong on June 24, talented Anders filly Sapling lost that race on protest, but quickly made amends when returning to the same track on Saturday to score her first actual victory.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.