Trending Sires to Watch at NZB’s Ready to Run Sale

Media Release - Wednesday October 31

This month marks New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds – an event that has become a 'must attend' for Australasia's and Asia's leading trainers and buyers.

Sacred FallsOn 21 & 22 November, clients will have the opportunity to inspect the progeny of 110 varied sires with each stallion profile offering unique value. It was only a short few years ago that many were recruited into the rosters of leading studs and now we are seeing their first crops come through the sale ring and hit the racetracks.

Earlier this year at the National Yearling Sales Series, several first season sires made a big impression and that trend is set to continue with their first crop of two-year-olds on offer at the Ready to Run Sale.

Following in his Champion Sire's footsteps, Sacred Falls (NZ) (O'Reilly) has replicated his Group One success on the racetrack with leading results in the sale ring. With 42 of his first crop yearlings sold at Book 1, buyers were attracted to the quality product paying an average of $121,500. Overall, Waikato Stud's Sacred Falls was the leading first season sire by aggregate at Karaka 2018.

Leading the way by average, it was Coolmore Stud's young recruit Rubick (AUS) (Encosta de Lago). His progeny sold in Book 1 for up to $320,000 and bolstered his position as the overall leading first season sire by average ($150,000). He has also sired two stakes performers in Australia.

Newgate Farm's Deep Field (AUS) (Northern Meteor) was also to the fore when eight of his progeny sold in Book 1 at an average price of $141,875 – the highest average by a first season sire in Book 1.

With a hot sire line, the son of high-class Invincible Spirit, Charm Spirit (IRE), proved just that at Karaka. His progeny sold for up to $400,000 in Book 1, and he was the leading first season sire in Book 2 with seven of his yearlings selling at average price of $42,857. He has also sired two stakes performers in the northern hemisphere.

RubickThese four sires have proven popular and we can expect their progeny to be in demand again. Sacred Falls will have nine two-year-olds including Lot 435 who is a three-quarter brother to Hong Kong Derby Trial winner Unique Jewellery and Lot 436 who is a sister to dual Group One winner Maco'reilly.

Rubick will have five sons catalogued including Lot 21 who is a half-brother to Group Two-winning Hong Kong sprinter Beat the Clock and Lot 371 who is out of a half-sister to Victorian Group Three performer Spirited Eagle.

Deep Field will have eight lots on offer at the Sale including Lot 215 who is half-brother to Group winner Valpolicella and Lot 340 who is a half-brother to Group One VRC Oaks and Vinery Stud Stakes winner Faint Perfume.

Buyers will have the opportunity to secure seven two-year-olds by Charm Spirit including Lot 49 who is a half-brother to Group Three winner Kingsguard (NZ) and Lot 401 who is the second foal out of Group Two winner and Group One performer Chaparrone (NZ).

While the sale ring has showcased some impressive early results for first season sires, the Ready to Run Sale will also feature a selection of second season sires with spring three-year-olds earning early racing status.

Advertisement

ShamexpressWindsor Park Stud's Shamexpress (NZ) (O'Reilly) was the leading first season sire in New Zealand in 2017-18 and he is again leading the second season sires' table. With 11 runners so far this season, three have stepped out for a win including Cyber Attack (NZ) who scored his first black-type win in the El Roca Trophy and joins two other stakes performers sired by Shamexpress.

The European-bred Dawn Approach (IRE) (New Approach) follows closely in behind with two starters for one winner in Dawn Patrol (NZ) who is unbeaten from two starts. Having shuttled between Darley Stud's Ireland and Australia stations, Dawn Approach is the sire of 15 stakes performers in both hemispheres.

Across the Tasman, the son of Northern Meteor, Zoustar (AUS), topped the leading first season sires' table in Australia in 2017-18 and is again making a clear lead this season. From 43 runners he has sired 15 winners including dual Group Three winner Sunlight, Group Two Run to the Rose victor Lean Mean Machine and his most recent Group winner Charge.

Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral) and Spirit of Boom (AUS) (Sequalo) have featured among the leading second season sires' table in both New Zealand and Australia. This season Dundeel sired Lincoln Falls to win on debut in New Zealand while Spirit of Boom is the sire of Spirits Aubeer who has won his last two consecutive starts here.

In Australia, Dundeel has produced eight winners from 22 runners so far this season including Dealmaker who was runner up in the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes while Spirit of Boom has sired 10 winners from 39 individual starters including Champagne Boom who won impressively on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes.

These five leading second season sires will each have representation at the Ready to Run Sale. Shamexpress, who topped an Australian two-year-old sale this year, will have 16 two-year-olds including Lot 80 who is out of a half-sister to Group One winner The Party Sand (NZ) and Lot 324 who is out of a sister to Group Two winner Te Akau Rose (NZ).

Dawn Approach will have five lots on offer including Lot 120 who is out of half-sister to Group One winner Velocitea (NZ) and Lot 126 who is out of a winning Darci Brahma mare and half-sister to the stakes-winning Zabeel filly Heat Haze.

Dundeel will be represented at the Sale by three horses with Lot 115, a colt from the family of American Champion 3YO Afleet Alex; Lot 378, a direct descendant from New Zealand Filly of the Year Tri Belle (NZ); and Lot 430, a colt out of a half-sister to stakes winner Cathay Lady.

ZoustarZoustar will have a colt who is out of a half-sister to four-time Group One winner Volkstok'n'barrell (NZ) (Lot 372) while Spirit of Boom will also have a colt who is a half-brother to four winners in Australia (Lot 157).

With an exciting selection of two-year-olds that have been expertly prepared by the best Ready to Run vendors in the country, and a successful two days of Breeze Ups at Te Rapa, make sure you view the line-up of 445 quality two-year-olds.

We look forward to welcoming you at Karaka on 21 & 22 November.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Satono’s Stunning Stats Continue as Rich Hill Sires Shine
Rich Hill Stud’s Group 1 stallion roster was the dominant force at Te Rapa’s premier meeting with their progeny claiming a feature race double.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Kiwi Stayer Chasing Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket
Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, will get his first opportunity to earn a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he heads to Flemington on Saturday.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.