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...
Kiwi Bred Sprinter Wins G1 Everest
On a day when the Kiwi breds ran rough shod over Randwick, no star shone brighter than the world's best sprinter Ka Ying Rising.
Ceolwulf Leads Kiwi Bred Trifecta in $5million G1 King Charles
NZB Ready to Run graduate Ceolwulf mastered the Randwick mile again on Saturday, going back-to-back in the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) and heading an all New Zealand-bred trifecta in the A$5 million showpiece.
Proven Galloper Private Eye Wins G3 Moonga Stakes With Ease
On this day for the past few years, Joe Pride’s Private Eye has taken part in the Everest, having finished second, third and sixth respectively, but connections decided on Melbourne this year where the 8yo took his earnings soaring past $12.6m with an easy victory in the Group 3 MRC Moonga Stakes (1400m).
Rich Enuff Quiet Achiever Wins G2 Tristarc
Just when Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote didn’t think his day could get any better after stable favourite Rothfire won the $2million Group III ATC Sydney Stakes at Randwick, it did with bonny mare Abounding taking out the Group II MRC Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
800k Night of Thunder Colt Stars - Record-Breaking Tattersalls October Book 2 Concludes
Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale concluded with new benchmarks set for turnover and median. The sale aggregate of 70,124,500 guineas was well clear of the wide-margin record set in 2024, and the median of 76,000 guineas was a 9% increase on the previous year’s record equalling figure. The sale clearance rate was an excellent 92%.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 18
Here is the full list of 130 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Watch - British Champions Day – Expect the Unexpected
Five G1 races were contested at Ascot overnight as the British flat season culminated with a dazzling day of racing, but there were shocks and surprises with only two favourites saluting on a day which was significant back in 2023 as the last time Via Sistina (IRE) raced in the Northern Hemisphere.
New Vendors Step into NZB Ready to Run Sale Spotlight
The horsemen and women who prepare two-year-olds for the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka every November are internationally renowned as some of the very best in the world at what they do, and a new generation will join them next month as first-time vendors.
Freedom Flame Gives Harry Perks Eighth Hill Smith Stakes Win
While many felt leading South Australian breeder Harry Perks would provider the winner of Saturday’s Listed SAJC Hill Smith Stakes (1800m), it was the outsider of his trio that took the race, as 3yo Ghaiyyath filly Freedom Flame proved too strong in the run to the line at Morphettville.
$900,000 Toronado Colt Tops Inglis Ready 2 Race
The highest-priced colt ever sold at an Inglis Ready2Race Sale topped a record day of trade that resulted in the biggest turnover in the sale’s history today.