Soliloquy Stakes Set for NZB Filly of the Year Series Debut
Friday, October 23, 2020
The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series has been expanded to 11 legs this season with the addition of the $70,000 Group Three Waikato Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), which will be run at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The Soliloquy Stakes is traditionally run at Ellerslie, but will be held at Te Rapa this year as part of the spring reshuffle forced by the COVID-19 interruptions earlier in the year.
“Waikato Stud are delighted to partner with the Waikato Racing Club in sponsoring the Waikato Stud Soliloquy Stakes,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said.
“With the race now being included in the prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series, it will provide an ideal target for northern fillies as they head towards the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) three weeks later at Riccarton.”
The Waikato Stud Soliloquy Stakes will be run as Race 5 on Saturday with a start time of 2:57pm.
NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho Reaches Riccarton
Friday, October 23, 2020
The South Island gets its shot at the A$300,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) with the running of the $30,000 NZB Airfreight Road to the Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton Park on Saturday.
Saturday’s race at Riccarton Park is the second of two qualifying heats staged in New Zealand. The first heat was run at New Plymouth last month and won by Master Fin (NZ) (Nom du Jeu). The winner of each race receives a guaranteed start in the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool on November 29.
As sponsors, NZB Airfreight offers a $5,000 equine airfreight credit for the winner of each qualifying race, should they decide to travel across the Tasman and contest the Jericho Cup.
Long Weekend Shines on NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series
Friday, October 23, 2020
The long weekend will see two NZB sponsored Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series races take place throughout the country at Riccarton Park and Trentham.
Eight NZB Ready to Run Sale race sponsorships were introduced this spring, as an incentive to support New Zealand trainers to attend the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November.
With the series incentive being well received by New Zealand trainers, five individual winning trainers have already confirmed their support to attend the 2020 Ready to Run Sale including Danny Frye, Mark Brosnan, Jamie Richards, Emma Davies and Johno Benner.
New Zealand-Sourced Stallions Starring in Australia
Thursday, October 22, 2020
The top flight of Australian racing is among the highest echelons of the sport anywhere in the world. Although, stallions sourced from the other side of the Tasman are more than holding their own.
New Zealand sourced sires boast the best credentials for success in that unique and high-intensity environment.
So You Think (NZ), Ocean Park (NZ) and Tavistock (NZ) were all Karaka graduates who won at Group One level on the racetrack and have become highly successful commercial sires, and all three of them sired Group One winners in Australia during the 2019-20 season.
Darci Brahma (NZ) is another Karaka graduate who has become a successful stallion. The $1.1 million Premier Sale purchase won five Group One races and has become a prolific source of winners during his career at The Oaks Stud.
Now the up-and-comer Kermadec (NZ) represents the next generation. He was a $260,000 purchase at the 2013 Premier Sale, and he won four races and more than A$2.9 million.
Dundeel (NZ) and Zed (NZ) are two other New Zealand-sourced stallions who sired Group One winners in Australia last season.
With such impressive performance and potential among stallions carrying the (NZ) suffix, New Zealand and Karaka are the perfect places to secure a promising stallion prospect.
NZB Ready to Run Sale’s Unrivalled Stats and Stars
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
The facts, figures and Group One graduates that have come out of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale paint a picture of a sale that is one of a kind.
The Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, which will be held on 18 and 19 November, is the undisputed source of winning two-year-old sale graduates in the southern hemisphere.
A Supreme Source of Classic Success
Over the last six seasons, graduates of the Ready to Run Sale have combined for an incredible seven Derby victories. This year’s Derby-winning star was Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), who was a $300,000 purchase from the 2017 Ready to Run Sale. He produced a scintillating performance in the HK$20 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March.
Sprinting superstars in Hong Kong
The HK$20 million Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) is one of the biggest sprint races on the planet, and graduates of NZB Sales have enjoyed a stellar run of success. The 2019 winner was Beat the Clock (Hinchinbrook), who was a $200,000 purchase from Prima Park’s draft at the 2015 Ready to Run Sale. The superb sprinter has now won 10 races and more than HK$52 million, which is 50 times his purchase price.
Brilliant Talent in Australia
The current headline act is undoubtedly Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), who David Ellis bought for $230,000 from Lyndhurst Farm’s draft at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale. The classy chestnut has won seven of his 14 starts and more than $1.5 million in stakes, winning the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick earlier this year.
Up-and-Comers
There are also a number of rising Ready to Run Sale stars who are beginning to make their mark across New Zealand, Australia and Asia. One of the most exciting is Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man), who was bought for $165,000 from the draft of Phoenix Park at the 2018 Ready to Run Sale. He has had eight starts to date for two wins, three placings and more than A$120,000 in stakes, headed by a spectacular win in the Group Three Frank Packer Plate (2000m) and a placing in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic (1800m).
Magnificent Melody Belle (NZ) Defends Livamol Crown
Monday, October 19, 2020
In the same week that she was crowned New Zealand’s Horse of the Year for the second time, megastar Karaka graduate Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) has added another Group One victory to her amazing record.
The $57,500 Premier Sale purchase brilliantly defended her crown in Saturday’s $250,000 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings. It was her 12th win at the elite level, now just one behind the all-time New Zealand record held by the legendary Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun). Melody Belle has now earned more than $3.8 million for her owners the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, which is 66 times her purchase price.
Ready to Run Sale graduate Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) extended his dominant form in Hong Kong with yet another sparkling performance in Sunday’s HK$4.5m Group Two The Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (1600m).
Bought for $300,000 from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2017 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Golden Sixty has now had 13 starts for 12 wins, earning more than HK$35 million. That’s the equivalent of around NZ$6.9 million, which is 23 times his purchase price.
Graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock sales played starring roles in Saturday’s A$250,000 Group Three Neds Classic (2000m) at Caulfield, finishing first, second and fourth.
The staying three-year-old feature was won by Albarado (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a $140,000 purchase by Busuttin Racing from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He scored by a neck from Let’s Karaka Deel (NZ) (Dundeel), who cost $80,000 from the same sale. Fourth placegetter Redwood Shadow (NZ) (Redwood) was passed in at Book 2 of Karaka 2019 with a $20,000 reserve.
Graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock Sales finished first, second and third in Saturday’s $70,000 Group Three Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings.
In a tight finish, the $50,000 Select Sale purchase Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) prevailed by a short head from the $26,000 Festival Sale graduate Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood). Another half-length away was Vigor Winner (Declaration of War), who cost $50,000 at the Ready to Run Sale.
Extended Breeze Up Clips and Parade Videos Available Online Now
Friday, October 16, 2020
New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw 255 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight of Te Rapa Racecourse earlier this week.
With significant importance placed on Breeze Up footage for buyers this year due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, NZB made the decision to lengthen their traditional Breeze Up clip format and offer vision of the mounting yard prior to horses breezing.
The 2020 Breeze Up clips were extended to include additional footage near the 600 metre mark to capture horses before they fully extended into their gallop, while horses also had the last 200 metres of their work individually timed.
Melody Belle (NZ) Stars as Karaka Graduates Dominate NZ Awards
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Graduates of New Zealand Bloodstock sales claimed seven of the eight equine awards at the 2020 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on Sunday, headed by superstar mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).
Bought for $57,500 at the 2016 Premier Sale by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis from Haunui Farm, the remarkable mare was named New Zealand Horse of the Year for the second year in a row. She also won the Champion Sprinter-Miler and Champion Middle-Distance Horse categories.
Day Two of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw the final 126 two-year-olds sprint down the straight of Te Rapa Racecourse.
A total of 255 horses breezed up across the two days, with the two-year-olds now heading to Karaka for NZB’s Ready to Run Sale on November 18 and 19.
After a downpour of rain overnight and in the early hours of the morning, the track conditions for the second day of the Breeze Ups settled at a Slow 7 with the rail moved in four metres.
Astute Agents Out In Force on Day One of Breeze Ups
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Day One of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw 129 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight of Te Rapa Racecourse.
Bloodstock Sales Manager Danny Rolston was quick to acknowledge the high standard of quality and presentation that buyers have become accustomed to at the Karaka Ready to Run Sale.
“The results of the sale speak for themselves and after seeing today’s group of horses parade and breeze up, it’s clear that is set to continue long into the future."
Supreme Heights (NZ) Strikes Again in Breeders’ Stakes
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Passed in at the 2017 Festival Sale at Karaka, Supreme Heights (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) is a now a back-to-back winner at Group Three level.
Supreme Heights added Saturday’s $70,000 Group Three Wyndspelle Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) to her last-start victory in the $70,000 Group Three NZB Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series (1400m). The quality mare has now won seven of her 16 starts and earned $164,685 in stakes.
Breeze Ups for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds will take place next week on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October, commencing at 10am each day.
Held across two days at Te Rapa Racecourse, the conditions and consistent measurements of NZB’s Breeze Ups give prospective buyers a major advantage when it comes to statistical and video analysis.