The $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) is run at Flemington on Saturday and the time honoured Blue Riband is shaping as an intriguing clash between two outstanding Kiwi-bred contenders in Mr Maestro (NZ) and Sharp ‘n’ Smart (NZ).
The Victoria Derby has been a great showcase for Kiwi-bred staying talent with past winners of the race since 2000 being: Hit the Roof (NZ), Amalfi (NZ), Efficient (NZ), Kibbutz (NZ), Monaco Consul (NZ), Lion Tamer (NZ), Sangster (NZ), Preferment (NZ), Tarzino (NZ) and Johnny Get Angry (NZ).
Mr Maestro will be looking to add to the already impressive record of his champion sire Savabeel, who has 11 entries for the NZB Ready to Run Sale on November 16 and 17.
Lot 115 is bred on the exact same cross as Mr Maestro being from a daughter of Rip Van Winkle (IRE), who has a great strike rate with Savabeel – three winners from three runners with Mr Maestro being one of two stakes-winners, the other being Group I winner Embellish.
Offered by Ohukia Lodge, the colt is the first foal of Honor, a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group I winner Te Akau Shark and half-sister to Group I winner Pondarosa Miss. He breezed in 10.73 seconds and you can watch him gallop below.
Another obvious highlight lot for Savabeel will be Lot 278 from Riversley Park, a colt from Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa. He breezed in 10.72 seconds and you can watch him below.
Sharp ‘n’ Smart staked his claim for Derby glory winning the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last Saturday and his sire Redwood (GB) has 10 entries.
They include Lot 68 from Westbury Stud, a colt from Danish Seaway that is a half-brother to stakes-winner Absalon and importantly is a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Sharp ‘n’ Smart. He breezed in 11.67 seconds well held together and you can watch him below.
The quickest of the Redwood two year-olds to gallop was Lot 20 from Westbury Stud, the half-brother to unbeaten Australian trained mare Norwegian Bliss, who has won six from six for Nathan Doyle. He galloped in 10.63 seconds and you can watch him below.
Under-rated sire Pride of Dubai posted his first Group I winner at Moonee Valley on Saturday with Bella Nipotina scoring a resounding win in the Group I MVRC Manikato Stakes (1200m) and her sire has one entry, but he’s significant as he was the equal second fastest of all horses to gallop.
Lot 260 from Ohukia Lodge is a colt from Sell in May and he is bred on a very similar cross to Bella Nipotina as his dam is by Starcraft, who is the sire of her dam-sire Star Witness. He comes from the prolific Australian Black Type ‘Tennessee’ family that has produced so many Group I winners including Aloha, Malaguerra, Seabrook and Cool Aza Beel. Watch him run below in a sizzling 10.07 seconds!.
Breeze Up clips are now available for all horses and click here to see the full catalogue for the 2022 NZB Ready to Run Sale on November 16 and 17.
