You would have to be living under a stone not to have noticed the torrent of high class Group winners for exciting young sire Justify (USA) right around the world in recent months and the show rolled into New Zealand this week in the shape of progressive filly Star of Justice and the NZB Ready to Run Sale features a filly bred on the same cross.
Star of Justice downed the hot favoutie Viva Vienna to win the Group III Barneswood Farms Stakes and heads next to the Group I NZ Thousand Guineas next month where she will be seeking to become the sixth Group I winner for her sire Justify this year.
Justify has five entries for the NZB Ready to Run Sale that will come under heavy scrutiny and all have breezed in style over the past two days.
Lot 251 from Cheltenham Stables is a filly from Special Memories, a stakes-placed sister to Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten from blueblood Galileo mare Memories of You (IRE), a half-sister to dual Group I winner Matiara.
This quality filly is bred on the Justify x Fastnet Rock cross which is showing real promise with 10 winners from 13 starters including the Group winning fillies Learning to Fly and also Star of Justice.
The fastest pair to gallop on the first day of the breeze up sessions on Monday included Lot 105 from KB Bloodstock. The colt from Lodi burnt the turf clocking 10.14 seconds and is the first foal from his dam, who is a winning More Than Ready (USA) daughter of Group I winner Emerald Dream.
A colt with a stallion’s pedigree, he comes from the Theme Song/ Cotehele House branch of the Eight Carat family that has produced Danewin and Commands and more recently Deep Field and Shooting to Win.
The Justify x More Than Ready cross has produced two winners from two runners and one of those winners is his Group I winning filly Aspen Grove.
Other entries for Justify are as follows:
Lot 43 from KB Bloodstock, the half-sister to Group III winner Scorpz from Forbetterorforworse, an unraced half-sister by Dubawi to Group winner Fast ‘n’ Rocking and stakes-winner Good ‘n’ Fast.
Lot 91 from Phoenix Park, a filly from La Dama, a three-quarter-sister by High Chaparral to Group I winner La Diosa and half-sister to Group III winner Solid Billing and stakes-winner Thy, who were both G1 placed.
Lot 156 from Riversley Park, a colt (fourth foal) of stakes-winning Savabeel mare No Tricks. The colt is bred on a similar cross to Group III winner and Victoria Derby contender Air Assault, who is by Justify from a daughter of Zabeel.
The 2023 edition of the Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 22 & 23 November with Breeze Ups completed at Te Rapa Racecourse on 16 & 17 October. Click here for the full catalogue.
