A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
This sale is never without a headline graduate and exciting three year-old Romantic Encounter put himself right in the picture for the $3million Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas on October 11 when charging home for second in the Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes last Friday.
Having just his second start following a debut win last month, the Lindsay Park Racing trained son of Ghaiyyath (IRE) went down by half a length to Wootton Bassett (GB) colt West of Swindon.
A $425,000 purchase for PR Thoroughbreds / Lindsay Park Racing from the Phoenix Park draft at this sale last year, Romantic Encounter has come into $11 for the Caulfield Guineas with Ladbrokes.
He is from the first crop of 2020 European Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath, who has two youngsters from his second crop catalogued this year.
Lot 335 Gelding Ghaiyyath (IRE) x Final Choice, by Nicconi – Landsdowne Park
Half-brother to a winner and is third foal of winning half-sister to stakes-winner Wait For No One from the family of Group I winner Super Elegant.
Lot 365 Colt Ghaiyyath (IRE) x Hampton Classic, by Exceed and Excel – Ohukia Lodge
Half-brother to two winners and is fourth foal of a winning sister to Group I winning sprinter Amber Sky from Group II winner Truly Wicked.
The shock passing last week of champion sire Wootton Bassett (GB) has put the spotlight on his remaining offspring and colts in particular, so his four entries for this sale will come under close consideration.
Lot 70 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Raptures by Fastnet Rock – BMD Bloodstock
First foal of winning half-sister to Group II winner Castlereagh Kid and third dam is Group I winning blue hen Joie Denise with G1 stars More Joyous, Sunday Joy, Tuesday Joy and Fenway all on the page.
Lot 313 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Elate, by Savabeel – KB Bloodstock
Half-brother to a winner and is third foal of SW Elate, a half-sister to Group III winner High Emocean.
Lot 360 Colt Wootton Bassett (GB) x Grazia by Savabeel – Riversley Park
Half-brother to a winner from SW Grazia, a full sister to dual Group I winner Shillelagh and Group II winner Tullamore.
Lot 438 Gelding Wootton Bassett (GB) x Little Miss Smiley, by Husson (Arg) – Riversley Park
Half-brother to Group III winner Jumbo Fortune and Group II placed Serious Fortune from stakes-placed Little Miss Smiley.
Reinforcing its reign as the best sale of its kind globally, Ready to Run graduates have claimed 34 Group One wins and 105 stakes wins in the last five seasons.
The 2025 edition of the Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on Wednesday 12 & Thursday 13 November with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October.
