Woburn Farm's Ready to Run Sale drafts have been a proven recipe for racetrack success in recent seasons, headed by multiple Group One-winning Hong Kong star Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), and their 13-strong draft at Karaka next month will again command buyers’ attention.
Lucky Sweynesse was offered by Woburn Farm at the 2020 Ready to Run Sale and was bought by J & I Bloodstock for $90,000. His 34-start career has produced 17 wins, eight placings and HK$84.97m (NZ$19.14m) in stakes – over 200 times his purchase price.
Among those 17 victories are no fewer than 11 successes at Group level, including the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).
Given the enormous role that the Hong Kong market plays in the Ready to Run Sale every year, Woburn Farm’s Adrian Stanley is well aware of the significance of having a flagbearer like Lucky Sweynesse.
“It’s been great for us to have a horse come out of that sale and do what he’s done in Hong Kong,” he said. “He’s the headline act, but we’ve had a number of other winners as well from our drafts in Australia and Hong Kong, so we’re pretty proud of our record.”
Other notable Ready to Run Sale graduates for Woburn Farm include Group Two winner Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress), plus the six-race winner, HK$9m earner (NZ$2.02m) and Group Three placegetter Packing Award (Shamus Award), along with numerous other winners across Australasia and further afield.
Woburn Farm have had horses sell for up to $550,000 at the Ready to Run Sale, and Stanley is pleased with the group of 13 two-year-olds he has assembled for 2026.
“We’ve got a really nice range this year, they’re 13 lovely horses,” he said. “I’ve been really happy with them all of the way through their preparations. They did it all nice and easily in their Breeze-Ups. There was a bit of a headwind on the second day, so I thought they did really well.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing them all go through the ring. One of the ones I’m most excited about is Lot 159, the Ardrossan. He’s breezed up really nicely, he’s a beautifully balanced horse and I think he’ll make a lovely three-year-old.
“Lot 237, the Satono Aladdin, is a strong and athletic type out of a good family. I was impressed with the way he breezed up too.
“And there’ll be a bit of interest in Lot 429, by Hellbent, who was an expensive yearling purchase and has a quality pedigree behind him.”
Among those pedigree credentials for Lot 429 is his highly talented three-quarter-brother Tardelli (I Am Invincible), who has finished fourth in the Group One Proisir Plate (1400m) since the Ready to Run Sale catalogue went to print.
Lot 237 is by Satono Aladdin out of Dozer Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress), who is a winning full-sister to the multiple Group One winner Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress).
View Woburn Farm's full draft and breeze up clips online here.
The 2026 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 18 & 19 November.
