McKeever Spots G1 Talent at NZB Ready to Run

Media Release - Sunday March 2

The feeling of seeing sale-ring purchases go on to stardom on the racetrack is nothing new for Johnny McKeever, but the respected European bloodstock agent took special satisfaction from Feroce’s triumph in the Gr.1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Johnny McKeever purchased Feroce from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale. Photo: supplied

Feroce was bred by Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and comes from the first crop of Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth. Offered by Eion Kemp’s Kilgravin Lodge at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Feroce was bought for $160,000 by McKeever Bloodstock Ltd in partnership with rookie trainer Dominic Sutton.

McKeever was at Flemington on Saturday as Feroce edged out fellow New Zealand-bred Savaglee in the Australian Guineas, improving his record to three wins, three placings and more than A$1.3 million in stakes from a nine-start career.

“To be honest, it was the usual story,” McKeever said. “I came to New Zealand to see some Ready to Run Horses before heading back to Europe for the Goffs Foal Sale. I put together a list, and Dom bid on several horses. By some miracle, one of the ones on the list was Feroce and he got him. That’s racing for you, and that’s picking out horses at sales for you.

“This is just incredibly special. Dom’s father is one of my best childhood friends. Dom is just starting his training career, and in the first year of his career, he’s trained a Group One winner with a New Zealand-bred horse.

“Another special aspect of this story is that Feroce was bred by Sir Peter Vela. I’m very fond of Sir Peter. He’s been up to Newmarket a lot and we’ve got to know each other well.

“So this is very special for me for a number of reasons. It’s also very special for Waikato Stud, with their young stallion Super Seth coming through with a lovely Group One winner like that.

Advertisement

“It just gives me so much pleasure on so many levels. It’s just fantastic.”

McKeever has also formed a successful partnership with Kemp in recent years, purchasing yearlings throughout Australasia with the goal of re-offering them as two-year-old at the Ready to Run Sale.

“Eion has been very king in letting me select some yearlings, mainly in Australia and some in New Zealand, to be made into Ready to Run horses,” McKeever said. “I’ve learned a lot from Eion about the Ready to Run Sale and the concept. I’m more of a traditional yearling buyer, so it’s new to me, but he’s been great to work with.”

McKeever has decades of experience buying bloodstock around the world, and he speaks highly about the New Zealand-bred throughbred.

“I’m extremely happy with the New Zealand product,” he said. “I think it’s a different level to anything we have anywhere else in the world.” – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
Super Seth 2YO Goes Two for Two at Caulfield
An outstanding few weeks for Waikato Stud’s freshman sire Super Seth continued at Caulfield on Saturday with the unbeaten Feroce winning the A$150,000 Vale John Russell (1200m).
Kiwi Bred Quinella G1 Australian Guineas
Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth and trainer Dominic Sutton stood in the Group One spotlight for the first time when Feroce headed a New Zealand-bred quinella in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.