Stage Set for Ready to Run Sale’s Triumphant Return to Karaka

With this week’s launch of a star-studded catalogue for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2022 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, the world’s premier sale of two-year-olds is set to emerge from two years of COVID-19 disruption and return to the absolute peak of its powers. 

The Ready to Run Sale stands head and shoulders above all other sales of its kind in Australasia, with an extraordinary honour roll of stakes-winning graduates, as well as a well-earned reputation for presenting quality horses that have been impeccably educated by internationally renowned horsemen and women.

The pandemic had significant impacts on the Sale, preventing international buyers from attending in both 2020 and 2021, and forcing last year’s edition to be held as a virtual sale. But now all buyers are being enthusiastically welcomed back to Karaka in November of 2022, and an outstanding catalogue is expected to draw them in from far and wide.

Over two days of selling on 16 and 17 November, a superb selection of 329 two-year-olds will go under the hammer, offered by respected kiwi vendors.

The catalogue features progeny of 89 different sires, with many of the proven stars of New Zealand and Australian stallion ranks joined by exciting freshmen Embellish (NZ), Ardrossan, Ace High, Eminent, Staphanos, The Autumn Sun, Trapeze Artist, Showtime, Grunt and Lean Mean Machine. 

Well-related youngsters set to be offered at the Ready to Run Sale include:

• Lot 61, by emerging Waikato Stud sire Tivaci out of dual Group One winner Costume (NZ) (Savabeel).
• Lot 76, a Savabeel colt who is a full brother to stakes winner Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel) and from a prolific black-type family.
• Lot 81, a son of Exceed And Excel who is closely related to VRC Oaks (2500m) heroine Personal (Fastnet Rock).
• Lot 140, a quality colt with an all-American pedigree – by sensational shuttle stallion Medaglia d’Oro out of the Grade One-placed K P Pergoliscious (Declaration Of War).
• Lot 162, a Tivaci half-brother to multiple Group One winner Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel).
• Lot 231, a Deep Field colt out of a sibling to sensational racehorse Incentivise (Shamus Award) and young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan.
• Lot 235, a half-brother to multiple stakes-winning juvenile Nomothaj (Snitzel) by The Autumn Sun.
• Lot 278, a colt by Savabeel out of Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi).

A prolific source of Derby and classic stars, NZB’s Ready to Run Sale is the world’s leading sale of two-year-olds.

In five seasons, NZB's Ready to Run graduates have claimed 17 Group One titles and 102 stakes wins, compared with just four Group One wins and 62 stakes races for both Australian two-year-old sales combined.

Standout recent graduates include:

• Megastar Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), who holds the all-time record for prizemoney earned in Hong Kong. He was bought for $300,000 from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2017 Ready to Run Sale.
• Dual Group One winner and Cox Plate (2040m) placegetter Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), bought by David Ellis from Lyndhurst Farm at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale.
• Champion Hong Kong sprinter Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook), who was a $200,000 purchase from the 2015 Ready to Run Sale.
• Four of the last eight winners of the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) – Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor), Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj), Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) and this year’s winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock). Mongolian Khan (bought for $220,000 in 2013) went on to triumph in the Australian Derby (2400m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m), while Gingernuts (who cost a mere $42,500) added the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Windsor Park Plate (1600m).

Known as the leading horses in training sale globally, NZB’s Ready to Run Sale has built a reputation for integrity and success, making it the preferred auction for buyers to secure Australasia’s top-level juveniles.

NZB has produced a higher ratio of winners to runners from the last five years than any other Australian two-year-old sale, and graduates have also earned on average 46% more prizemoney than their Australian counterparts combined.

International buyers wishing to physically attend the 2022 Ready to Run Sale can enquire about accommodation options by emailing [email protected].

Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via bidonline.nzb.co.nz, plus an extensive online catalogue right here that will host pedigrees, parade videos and photos, breeze up clips and data analysis, updates and important information to assist your buying decisions.

View the full catalogue online here.

Important Dates

Breeze Ups
3 & 4 October at Te Rapa Racecourse

Sale of Two-Year-Olds
16 & 17 November at Karaka