Karaka graduate Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) became the first filly since 1990 to win the G1 New Zealand Oaks-Australian Oaks double when she claimed both crowns in 2017.
She was a NZ$150,000 purchase at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale at Karaka on November 21 and 22 will provide further gilt-edged opportunities to invest in the next generation.
It’s not only the New Zealand colts and geldings taking top honours in Australasia’s coveted races, the fillies are stamping their mark too and in the past six seasons New Zealand-sourced fillies have triumphed in 36% of all Australian Group 1 fillies’ events.
Oaks domination
They have reigned supreme in the last five G1 Australian Oaks with Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), Bonneval (NZ), Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), Gust of Wind (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}) all displaying their staying power.
Unforgotten
This year's Ready To Run Sale features 65 2-year-old fillies who will no doubt have an impact on the racetrack ahead of breeding careers.
Several of Waikato Stud’s stallion roster will feature among the well-bred fillies. The breeding nursery’s champion stallion Savabeel (Zabeel {NZ}) has sired numerous Group 1-winning fillies, including Queensland Oaks winner Scarlett Lady (NZ), New Zealand Oaks winners Savvy Coup (NZ) and Savaria (NZ) and New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner Hasahalo (NZ).
Savabeel fillies
He will be represented by several fillies at the sale with prominent classic pedigrees. These include Diamond Lodge’s Lot 69, who is out of a winning Iffraaj (GB) mare and half-sister to G1 New Zealand Derby winner Helene Vitality (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), and Mapperley Stud’s Lot 393, out of a half-sister to G1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner and Ready to Run graduate Magic Cape (NZ) (Magic Albert).
Watch: Lot 69 breeze up
A freshman at the stud, Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) was the leading first-season sire by aggregate at Karaka 2018 and will offer his first crop of 2-year-olds at the November auction, including fillies from the families of Group 1 classic winners.
Riverrock Farm have consigned Lot 128, who is out of a half-sister to G1 Australasian Oaks winner Yelgun Dawn (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}), while Diamond Lodge will offer Lot 233, a direct descendant of Group 1-winning New Zealand champion 2- and 3-year-old filly Phillipa Rush (NZ) (Prince Echo {USA}).
Ardsley Stud has a three-quarter sister to dual Group 1 winner Maco’reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), whose second dam was the joint New Zealand Filly of the Year Plume (NZ) (Crested Wave {USA}).
Watch: Lot 128 breeze up
Group pedigree
Waikato Stud’s young sire Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park), who has sired Group 1 Oaks, Derby and Guineas placegetters, will be represented by Phoenix Park’s filly at Lot 190. She is a half-sister to two Group winners including G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner Antonio Lombardo (NZ) (Pins).
Watch: Lot 190 breeze up
The late Pins (Snippets) has left Group 1 Oaks and Guineas-winning fillies in Katie Lee (NZ) and Legs (NZ), and in November he will be represented by Cambridge Blue Agistment’s filly, Lot 81, who is from the same family as Hong Kong Horse of the Year and Hong Kong Derby winner Viva Pataca (GB) (Marju {IRE}).
Adding some international flavour with stakes performers in both hemispheres, Westbury Stud shuttle sire Reliable Man (GB) (Dalakhani {IRE}) will be represented by four fillies in November including the Karaka farm’s Lot 402 who is from the family of G1 VRC Oaks winner Richfield Lady (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}) and Group 1 winner Captain Moonlight (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}) who also placed in the G1 New Zealand Derby.
International forces
International sires Iffraaj (GB) and Makfi (GB) will also have fillies at the Sale. Ainsley Downs has consigned the last horse to go through the ring, Lot 445, an Iffraaj filly from the same family as G1 South Australian Derby winner Kushadasi (Choisir).
Kilgravin Lodge will offer Lot 216, a filly by Makfi, who is out of a half-sister to G1 New Zealand Oaks winner and New Zealand 1000 Guineas runner up Keep the Peace (NZ) (Keeper).
Watch: Lot 216 breeze up
Haunui Farm’s shuttle sire Iffraaj has sired several Group 1 classic winners, including Ready to Run graduates Turn Me Loose (NZ) and Gingernuts(NZ), while Makfi, who now stands in Japan, has produced Group 1 Oaks winners Bonneval and Sofia Rosa.
