Many of the leading lights in Malaysian racing at the moment were sourced through NZB sales, and 11 of them will clash in the lucrative NZB Open Championship (1400m) at Selangor this Saturday.
With prize-money of RM300,000, the NZB Open Championship is held in recognition of the NZB’s strong affiliation with the Selangor Turf Club and the club’s commitment to support the Ready to Run Sale.
Following a barrier draw held Wednesday at the Club and attended by NZB's Mike Kneebone, NZTM's Andrew Birch, New Zealand Trade Commissioner for Malaysia Suzy Fewtrell, Selangor Turf Club officials and connections of the runners, the field is now set for a start on Saturday.
The 11 horses were bought for an average price of $71,400, with Banker’s Dividend (NZ) (Proisir) the highest-priced at $260,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2024 and Flying Nemo (NZ) (Vespa) the lowest-priced at $7,000 through the National Online Yearling Sale.
Among the seven Ready to Run graduates, the prices range from $23,000 to $75,000 with an average of $58,000.
In what has been billed by the Selangor Turf Club as a clash of the titans, defending NZB Open Championship winner Antipodean (NZ) (Derryn) is set to come up against fellow top-level performers Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn) and Platinum Emperor (NZ) (Sweynesse). But the chances don’t end there, and the stage is set for an exciting clash.
In an unusual occurrence for a feature race, the field also features a pair of full-brothers – six-year-old star Antipodean and his four-year-old sibling Mega Crusader (NZ) (Derryn).
The NZB Open Championship will be run as Race 9 at Selangor on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 4.15pm local time (8.15pm NZT).
The 2026 edition of the NZB Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 18 & 19 November, with Breeze Ups to be held across two consecutive days on one turf track at Te Rapa Racecourse on 12 & 13 October.
Peerless by every measure, NZB’s Ready to Run Sale graduates have won 33 Group One races and 115 stakes races in the last five seasons. Last season alone, graduates of the Sale won 26 black-type races, while graduates of both Australian 2YO sales combined claimed only 12 in the same period.
Hong Kong Derby victor Invincible Ibis (Hellbent), plus Group One stars Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock), Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), Antino (NZ) (Redwood), Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth), War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) and Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) headline a remarkable list of recent graduates from this Sale.
