Momentum built steadily over two intense days of selling as NZB's 2025 Ready to Run Sale reaffirmed the strength of the middle market and the appetite for well-prepared New Zealand juveniles. By the time the final horse had exited the ring, the indicators told a clear story: demand had not merely held but surged, driving the aggregate to a record $41,407,500, complemented by a record median of $100,000 and record average of $156,255. Against that backdrop, the sense of achievement across the sales complex was palpable. Bloodstock manager Kane Jones summed up the mood with understated pride when he described the outcome as "quite remarkable, another record-breaking sale," and emphasised the long game behind the figures, noting the team's efforts "not just over the last few days, but months out, and even years building relationships for this Sale." Jones also pointed to the significance of the upward trend across all markers, celebrating the $41 million turnover while highlighting the buoyant average and median as evidence of a reliably deep buying bench. He praised the breezing performances and the continually lifting standard of horse presented, remarking that "the type of horses that are brought to this Sale improves year on year," before crediting the vendors whose commitment underpins its reputation. One of the clearest demonstrations of that vendor strength came courtesy of KB Bloodstock, whose Lot 374, a Zoustar colt, commanded the top price of $825,000 from prominent Hong Kong buyer Mr Yeung Kin Man. Bloodstock agent Willie Leung said, "Mr Yeung enjoys this Sale very much, because the first year we got two winners, and they have won nine races," and explained the appeal of the colt's strength, size, and precocity, qualities that make him a likely early arrival in Hong Kong. Mr Yeung's purchases did not end there, with the Zoustar colt forming part of a broad sweep that totalled 16 acquisitions. Leung outlined the wider intent, explaining that his client is "about to bring 10 new horses to Hong Kong" and wanted to stock up further before refining the group into the individuals best suited to racing there. The second-highest price of the Sale came shortly before the curtain fell, when James Cummings secured Lot 371, a Written Tycoon colt from Prima Park, for $775,000. His three purchases for the session placed him just behind Mr Yeung on the buyers' leaderboard. Among vendors, Riversley Park extended their dominance to a ninth consecutive year, trading 33 lots for $6,525,000, highlighted by a Satono Aladdin colt sold for $675,000 to Mr Sanxiong Gao. With Landsdowne Park topping the averages and Zoustar leading the sires' table, attention now shifts to the centenary edition of the National Yearling Sale, launching with the TAB Karaka Millions Raceday on 24 January before Book 1 commences at Karaka the following afternoon.
Longest Priced Winner of Season at Happy Valley
Friday, 14th November 2025
The longest priced winner of the 2025/26 Hong Kong season to date occurred at Happy Valley on Wednesday night when Team Team Folks (Super Seth-Savodara, by Savabeel) had his first start for new trainer Jimmy Ting, reported punters.com.au. He'd failed in three starts for his previous trainer and he paid $83 for the win. Ting enjoyed a double with Huge Wave (Vadamos-Stanica, by Zabeel). Luke Ferraris jumped to second on the jockey's premiership with a win on King Oberon (Divine Prophet-The Fairy's Kiss, by Elusive Quality) who paid $22 for the win. "I think the tempo and the little bit of give in the ground certainly helps him," said trainer Douglas Whyte. "He did it tough tonight – he was three deep for a long way but he got going at the right time and horses are running on from midfield and behind and coming out wide, so it probably suited him. Under normal circumstances it probably wouldn't have, but tonight's pattern has suited him. He's done a great job so far. He's a model of consistency and putting two wins back to back is fantastic for a horse of his calibre and good for the owners as well." Being in second on the jockey's premiership also grants Ferraris a spot in next month's Longines International Jockeys' Championship, while Vincent Ho is the season's leading eligible local rider for the International Jockeys' Championship which runs in December. The final spots will decided in two weeks, so there may yet be some shuffling. Matthew Poon also rode a double at the meeting on a pair of unlikely maidens. Lucky Blessing (Microphone-Embellished, by Bellamy Road) took 13 starts to win his first race, while Double Bingo (Charm Spirit-Estrela Flicka, by O'Reilly) took 18 starts.
Gerard Pair Set to Give Trainer Guineas Double
Friday, 14th November 2025
Trainer Pam Gerard won last year's Gr1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas with Savaglee (Savabeel-Glee, by O'Reilly) and this year has two strong chances with Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes-Search Approach, by Dawn Approach) and Romanoff (Belardo-Tsarina Belle, by Stravinsky), reported racingnews.co.nz. "They both travelled well, so we're happy they got there safe and sound and they're both in good form," Gerard said. Affirmative Action has won his last two in succession including the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy two starts ago. "He doesn't know much different with a wide gate, so if we don't tell him he won't know," Gerard said. "I'm still learning a bit about him really, it's hard to get a line on him as he's such a laid-back fellow that you might think hasn't got any more in the tank, but George (Rooke, jockey) assures me there's plenty left. He just jumps and puts himself there in his races and completely buttons off. I would have liked to have got another run under his belt going into the Guineas, but it just wasn't available to us so we've done the best we can and hopefully it's good enough." Affirmative Action was sold by Westbury Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $115,000 to Ballymore Stables, while Ballymore purchased Romanoff for $75,000 at the same sale from Haunui Farm. Romanoff was third in the Gr2 James and Anne Sarten Memorial Handicap last start. "He's very well and he'll get the mile, no trouble at all," Gerard said. "His run at Tauranga was amazing, he was the only horse to make up ground from behind all day, and he wasn't far off them. He is quite under-estimated, and he's done nothing wrong at all this time in. He's very light and nimble and is walking on air at the moment, he's absolutely flying."
Affirmative Action (orange) is in terrific form (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)
Verity Can Add to The Autumn Sun's Stakes Haul
Friday, 14th November 2025
With metro racing this Saturday in NSW heading to Newcastle for the $1m Gr2 The Hunter meeting, the 3YOs will fight it out in the $250,000 Gr3 Spring Stakes (1600m) with a field of 11 up and coming final acceptances set to do battle. With just one stakes winner in the field in the shape of Peter Snowden's Gr3 Up And Coming Stakes winner Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon-Viddora, by I Am Invincible) after the withdrawal of last start Listed Springtime Stakes winner Burma Star (Exceed And Excel-Gongs, by Dawn Approach) who will stay in Melbourne, Arrowfield Stud's up and comer Verity (The Autumn Sun-Mantra of Life, by Dubawi) is one of six fillies in the race. A winner of two of her three starts, highlighted by victory last time out of the same track and trip as Saturday's race, the Ashley Morgan ridden filly has drawn barrier 11, but she does not appear to be a horse that needs to go forward, so connections will be hoping she can slot in somewhere. Having trained Genzano (Maurice) to win the race two years back, trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich are sure to have targeted the event with their lightly raced filly. Yet to win in his two starts, finishing fourth on both occasions, the John Sargent-trained Ratify (Proisir-Sororia-Iffraaj) should relish every part of the 1600m and looks another to be capable of being in the finish.-
Angel Capital's Best Chance for Gr1 Redemption
Friday, 14th November 2025
Having added more than $1m in earnings in his last three starts since joining the C J Waller stable, the one elusive element missing from his resume is his own elite level score and, come Saturday in the $1m Gr1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m), Yulong's Angel Capital (Harry Angel-Bahamas, by Teofilo) looks to have his best chance yet. Unlucky not to win the Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) two start back, the 4YO stallion prospect then rocketed to the line to be beaten into sixth place, just over two lengths adrift of Ya Ying Rising (Shamexpress) in the $20m Gr1 The Everest over an unsuitable trip of 1200m. Just half a length ahead of him in that race was Ciaron Maher's Jimmysstar (Per Incanto-Anniesstar, by Zed) who then stepped up to the $3m Russell Balding (1300m) last start and produced the goods to take his earnings past $6 million. With four wins from five starts at Caulfield, Jimmysstar appears the main threat to the Mill Park Stud yearling graduate Angel Capital in securing his first Gr1 victory. Working at Caulfield on Wednesday under race day jockey Ben Melham, Waller was happy with how he went. "He's ticking over nicely," said Waller to racing.com. "He's as fit as we can get him – we don't want to get him any fitter – we just want to keep him sharp. Ben Melham was aboard, and he rides him on Saturday and he knows the horse better than I do and he said he feels great. He's nice and relaxed so 1400 metres, he's ready for it." Outside of the leading pair, Evaporate (Per Incanto-Savanna, by Animal Kingdom) was a solid third last time out behind Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the $10 Golden Eagle while dual Gr1-winning juvenile Vinrock (I Am Invincible-Girl Gone Rockin', by Redoute's Choice) has not raced since his fourth to Angel Capital's stablemate Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) in the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m); both are not without some chance.
She's Bulletproof Entitled to Bounce Back
Friday, 14th November 2025
A winner two starts back in the Gr3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, the Charlotte Littlefield-trained She's Bulletproof recorded an uncharacteristically poor run at her next start when beaten just under five lengths into second last place over 1100m in the Gr3 Begonia Belle Stakes down the Flemington straight. Heading to Saturday's Gr3 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, she'll be at a track where she has produced some outstanding efforts including a second to Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) in the Gr1 Oakleigh Plate in February this year. Drawn barrier 5 on Saturday in the field of 13 mares, the Ben Allen ridden 5YO looks a leading contender to take out the race. Third behind She's Bulletproof in the Northwood Plume Stakes before charging into fourth behind Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) in the Gr2 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley, the Clinton McDonald-trained Vestas (Toronado-Ready Set Sail, by More Than Ready) is yet to win at the track and the distance, and while the 4YO has not won since her debut back in October 2024, she has recorded two stakes-placed efforts to date and looks ready to run over the top of them if there is enough pace upfront. Disappointing at her last two starts, but since winning a jumpout, the Lyn Tolson and Leonie Proctor trained Pop Award (Shamus Award-Miss Popkins, by Jeune) could be one to bounce back into form here.
Group 1 Form the Key to My Gladiola's Chances
Friday, 14th November 2025
Although John McArdle's My Gladiola (I Am Invincible-Villa Verde, by Not a Single Doubt) is yet to win a race at Caulfield in three starts, and has also not been able to greet the judge in her two starts over 1200m, surely her last start second in the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) behind boom colt Tentyris (Street Boss) is enough to see the 3YO filly a leading contender in Saturday's Gr3 Thoroughbred Club Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Settling alongside the winner at the tail of the field, the winning colt made his move first, and while My Gladiola was able to follow him through, she didn't have the finishing burst of the winner, but still defeated the likes of Gr1 Golden Rose winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) in what was an outstanding effort, and with only a kilo and a half separating the field, she's the one if she can produce another effort like her last start. With a host of runners coming through either the Gr3 Red Roses Stakes (1200m) on Oaks Day last week, or the Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day, the Antony and Sam Freedman-trained Inkaruna (I Am Invincible-Ravi, by Redoute's Choice) was second in the Red Roses Stakes, and does have recent race fitness on her side. Having finished third behind Tempted (Street Boss) at 2, the Kia Ora Stud-bred and raced filly could give the Hunter Valley-based farm a one-two result, having also bred and sold My Gladiola.
My Gladiola posted exceptional splits (pic: Mark Gatt)
Sheza Albi Likely to Continue Fillies Trend
Friday, 14th November 2025
With the last three winners of the Gr2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) being fillies, this year's favourite Sheza Albi (Saxon Warrior-Sheza Gypsy, by Shaft) looks set to continue that trend come Saturday. One of just two fillies in the 13-horse field, the P Moody and K Coleman-trained 3YO was an impressive last start winner of the Gr3 Vanity Stakes (1400m), winning by a length and three quarters as the favourite, coming off a previous third behind eventual Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) winner Tentyris (Street Boss) in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m). In her six starts to date, Sheza Alibi is yet to finish outside the top three and not only has she finished behind Tentyris, but also a second placed effort at 2 during the Brisbane winter carnival behind eventual Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun), which then resulted in a change from her original trainer Kris Hansen to her current Pakenham based stable. The form through the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) is a big watch leading into this race with the winner Burma Star (Exceed And Excel-Gongs, by Dawn Approach) staying in Melbourne rather than racing in the Gr3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle, while the second, fourth, fifth and sixth placed runners will also run here. With only a narrow margin separating Burma Star and the second placed Tagline (Tagaloa-Rekindled Glow, by Redoute's Choice) and the fourth placed Pictor (Written Tycoon-Be My Star, by Zoustar) not getting a lot of luck in the run to the line, all three look to have chances of toppling Sheza Alibi here.
Widden and Banagloe Strike for Couer Volante
Friday, 14th November 2025
A high-profile addition to the broodmare ranks has seen Coeur Volante set for a future visit to Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar after fetching $500,000 in the Spring Boutique Sale on Inglis Digital. The accomplished daughter of Proisir, offered by Lindsay Park Racing on behalf of Rupert Legh and partners, was secured by a new partnership between Widden Stud and Bangaloe Stud in a sale that again underscored the strength of Australia’s online bloodstock market. The transaction marks the seventh lot to hit the $500,000-plus benchmark on Inglis Digital this year, joining the likes of Fashion Faux Pas, Extreme Choice and Ole Kirk stallion shares, as well as Secure and Velocious. For Coeur Volante, the next chapter will begin under the banner of Widden Stud, where she will eventually visit the recently crowned Champion Sire of Australia, Zoustar. Widden principal Antony Thompson said he was thrilled to secure a mare of such quality and scope. “She’s a beautiful mare with a neat pedigree that had a dynamic 3YO season especially,” he said. “I’ve seen her on race days and saw videos of her in the lead-up to this sale but did rely heavily on Sebastian Hutch, who saw her last week and relayed his thoughts to us, but it’s really exciting to have secured her. Whether it’s this season or next, we’ll let the dust settle before locking anything in like that, but when the time does come, we think Zoustar will be an ideal match on both pedigree and type.” For Bangaloe’s Julia Ritchie, the acquisition is both sentimental and strategic as she continues to refresh her broodmare band. “I’m in the process of refreshing my broodmare band at the moment and she’s going to be a great new addition,” Ritchie said. “I obviously bought a share in Zoustar on Inglis Digital last year and after speaking to Antony and the Widden team, we thought he would be a great starting point for a mare like Coeur Volante. My dad and Antony’s dad, Bim Thompson, were great mates back in the day, so this is just the continuation of a long and prosperous friendship and working relationship.” Inglis Digital’s business manager Nick Melmeth revealed, “When Rupert mentioned to James Price that there might be an opportunity to offer her, we jumped at the chance and we are very grateful to the partners for their support of the platform. Widden are incredible patrons of Inglis and have been supporters of Inglis Digital from the start, so we hope that she is lucky for them. It’s a strong partnership with Julia, and all being well, we’ll see a Zoustar yearling out of Coeur Volante come back through an Inglis sale ring in a few years’ time.”
Sargent Confident Newcastle Troops are Ready
Friday, 14th November 2025
Confidence is quietly building in the John Sargent stable that Meridiana is ready to take the next step toward black-type company, with the talented mare well placed for Saturday’s Lees Racing ‘Legend’ Mile (1600m) at Newcastle, reports racingnsw.com.au. The four-year-old has raced just six times but already proven her class, having contested three Listed events, including a strong third in Brisbane earlier this year. Her return to winning form at Hawkesbury and a luckless second in the Four Pillars suggest she is edging ever closer to fulfilling her potential. Sargent still recalls the Four Pillars as one that slipped away. “She was a bit stiff she couldn’t get out when we wanted to and it cost her the race because they weren’t really coming from the back,” he said. “She seems to have improved; she was only second-up the other day and she’s come through that really well. We’ll see after this whether she carries on for another one or two or goes for a break.” Meridiana, $2.80 with TAB on Wednesday, ran the fastest final 600m and 200m splits in that race, flashing home under 59.5kg to get within half a length of Sonofdec, whom she meets again this weekend. With a more favourable draw and Jason Collett retaining the ride, Sargent believes she can race closer in the run and strike when it matters. “We went back from the draw the other day but there’s no reason why she shouldn’t be at least midfield at worst and use the draw,” he said. “You can’t just give them a start all the time. I’ll be telling Jason to get a spot a lot closer. It looks a nice race for her at a mile on a big track.” Sargent also gives a quiet push for emerging three-year-old Ratify, who tackles the $250,000 NZB Spring Stakes (1600m). Still learning his craft, the gelding has finished fourth in both runs to date at 1400m, running on from the rear each time. “He was very green last time, he’s very promising but mentally immature,” Sargent said. “I want to put him in here and hide him away so he can’t get out in the open too early. He has immense ability; hopefully he can be in the field somewhere and hit the line strong.” The stable’s third runner, Perfect Justice, heads to the Novocastrian Electrical Midway Handicap (1600m) with renewed purpose after a breakthrough win at Hawkesbury last month. “He seems to have improved; the penny might have dropped with him,” Sargent said. “He’s going better now than when he was beaten at Scone, and I think he can go on with it.”
