Spotlight Shines on Emerging Ready to Run Sire Talent

Media Release - Friday October 1

With their progeny starting to light up racetracks across Australasia and further afield, the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November gives buyers the perfect opportunity to get on board with the early crops of exciting up-and-coming stallion talent.

Almanzor

Ever since he first set foot on New Zealand soil at the beginning of the 2018 breeding season, all eyes have been on Almanzor.

Almanzor

Cambridge Stud’s headline shuttle stallion retired to stud with an outstanding race record behind him – winning eight of his 11 starts, including the Group One Prix du Jockey Club (2100m), Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) and British Champion Stakes (2000m) against stellar fields.

Advertisement

Interest and anticipation have only grown since then, and Almanzor’s first crop of yearlings performed outstandingly well at Karaka earlier this year – earning a total of $8.13 million for 42 yearlings sold, with an average price of $193,571 that ranked second only behind champion sire Savabeel.

Almanzor’s first northern hemisphere two-year-olds have enjoyed immediate success, with five early winners across France, the USA and the UK.

His first New Zealand runner, Gibraltar Rising (NZ), also caught the eye in the opening two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui in September. After losing almost 10 lengths coming extremely wide around the home turn, he charged home to finish a remarkably close third.

There are seven two-year-olds by Almanzor in the 2021 Ready to Run Sale catalogue, including:

  • Lot 283, who is a half-brother to the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) winner Stella Di Paco (NZ) (Paco Boy).
  • Lot 285, the first foal out of Savvy Dreams (NZ) (Savabeel), who placed in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Group Three Lowland Stakes (2100m). Savvy Dreams is also a three-quarter-sister to Shezzacatch (NZ) (Savabeel), who won last season’s Listed El Roca Trophy (1200m). This is also the family of Group One performer Octapussy (Octagonal), who is the dam of the high-class mares Pussy Willow (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Pussy O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly), while another relative is the top-quality racehorse and broodmare Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom).
Advertisment
More Reading...
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds Colts Trio for MM Weanling Sale
Alma Vale Thoroughbreds produced the highest priced youngster at the recent Inglis Australian Weanling Sale when their I Am Invincible filly from Shoko sold for $575,000 and they head to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale (May 26,27) with another quality draft of three appealing colts.
Weanling Sale Catalogue Loaded With Karaka Quality
The allure of a weanling sale is the world of possibilities that are within reach over the next few seasons, both back in the sale ring and on the racetrack. The 150-lot catalogue for next month’s 2024 NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is stacked with the right bloodlines and credentials for buyers to pursue those big dreams, similar to that on offer at Karaka but in smaller pac
Good Showing Expected from Justify Colt
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh believes Bourbon Proof can make his presence felt in strong three-year-old company next season.
G1 Winner Affaire a Suivre Added to MM National Supplementary
The supplementary catalogue for the 2024 Magic Millions National Weanling and Broodmare Sales has been finalised with a further nine stakes performers among the latest confirmed entries.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were five heats at the Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday morning won by some interesting juveniles including a Japanese conceived and foaled in the UK filly, plus a smart looking colt by Castelvecchio.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 21
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Australian Stud Book Red Flags –You Don’t Need a Crystal Ball
We haven’t done one of these stories for a while, but the Australian Studbook offers a wealth of information and if you know what to look for the pointers for future success are often red flagged.
US Navy Flag Heads The Oaks Roster for 2024
The Oaks Stud in Cambridge have announced their service fees for the forthcoming breeding season with the roster to be headed by leading second season sire U S Navy Flag at $15,000 + GST.
Coolmore Sires Quinella Listed Derby du Languedoc
The Listed Derby du Languedoc (2400m) at Toulouse in France overnight produced a quinella for Coolmore sires Churchill (IRE) and Wootton Bassett (GB) with progressive colt Zweig hanging on to win in a thriller over lightly raced filly Wootton Zi.
Good Things Come in Threes
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have raced two outstanding daughters of Proisir in the colours of Philip and Catherine Brown, and on Wednesday they are hoping they can unveil another at Taupo.