Hastings and Sha Tin provided the stage for a notable weekend for NZB graduates, with Invincible Ibis returning to winning form in the Group Three Celebration Cup while Hawea and Old Fashioned also produced important victories in New Zealand. The results highlighted the continued presence of graduates from New Zealand Bloodstock sales across major spring racing meetings.
Invincible Ibis leads the way at Sha Tin
Invincible Ibis began his five-year-old season with a victory in the HK$4.2 million Group Three Celebration Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Hong Kong Derby winner had been offered by Kilgravin Lodge at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale, where trainer Mark Newnham had purchased him for $425,000.
The gelding had now recorded six wins and four placings from 12 starts, with his earnings exceeding HK$26 million (NZ$5.85 million). His five victories during the previous season had included the Hong Kong Derby (2000m), while he had also finished fourth in the Group One Champions Mile (1600m).
Invincible Ibis had been named Hong Kong’s Champion Four-Year-Old for the 2025-26 season, and his Celebration Cup success had provided a positive beginning to his new campaign.
Newnham had been pleased with the result despite expecting the horse to benefit from further improvement. Invincible Ibis had carried more condition and had raced over 1400 metres as he began his five-year-old season.
The trainer had outlined plans for the gelding to race again in October and November before being considered for the Hong Kong International Races in December. The Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Cup (2000m) were both possible targets, with his performances in the coming months expected to help determine the preferred race.
Hawea continues her rise at Hastings
At Hastings, Hawea had produced another significant result by winning the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) for trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall.
The Matamata trainers had won the same race the previous year with Lollapalooza, who later finished runner-up in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. Their success had continued at Hastings as Hawea delivered another strong performance in the HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders-sponsored feature.
Bred by NZB’s John Cameron, Hawea had been purchased by Brendon McCullum and Richardson Racing for $300,000 from Wentwood Grange’s Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2025. Cameron had retained an ownership interest in the daughter of Hellbent.
Hawea had now recorded two wins and a placing from five starts, with $171,200 in stakes. She had previously produced a last-to-first victory in the Listed Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic (1100m) at Taupo on August 16 before winning a trial at Te Rapa on September 13.
She had faced a stronger field at Hastings and had also overcome a wide run before securing the Gold Trail Stakes. The victory had earned Hawea six points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, moving her into an equal lead alongside Pounce.
Richardson had indicated that Hawea still had further improvement ahead of her as her preparation progressed towards the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in Christchurch in November.
Her next possible appearance had been identified as the Group Two Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), scheduled for Ellerslie on October 17.
Old Fashioned adds another Hastings highlight
Hastings had also provided another notable result when unbeaten colt Old Fashioned won the $175,000 Group Two The Foxes @ Novara Park Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).
The Proisir colt had been offered by Lilywhites Lodge at the 2025 Ready to Run Sale but had been passed in. He had since won both of his starts and had accumulated $120,750 in stakes.
Old Fashioned’s latest success had added another strong result to the record of horses connected with the Ready to Run Sale. His early performances had also increased interest around the upcoming 2026 edition of the sale.
The 2026 Ready to Run Sale had been scheduled for November 18 and 19 at the Karaka Sales Centre, beginning at 11am New Zealand time. Breeze Ups had been scheduled at Te Rapa Racecourse on October 12 and 13.
NZB Trainers Series continues across New Zealand
The weekend results had arrived as the seventh edition of the NZB Ready to Run Trainers Series had begun across New Zealand.
Introduced by NZB in 2020 with support from Majestic Horse Transport and Dunstan Horsefeeds, the series had been designed to support New Zealand trainers attending the November sale.
The opening leg had taken place at Riccarton, where Nayton Mitchell-trained Recital had won, while Chicago Jack had secured the second leg at Hastings for Auckland-based trainer Steven Cole.
The 2026 series had comprised seven races, with three scheduled in the Northern region, two in the Central region and two in the Southern region. The winning trainer of each sponsored race had been set to receive a package covering travel, insurance, horse transport and feed support connected with attendance at the Karaka sale.
The next leg had been scheduled for Hawera on October 3, with the 2026 Ready to Run Sale set to follow at Karaka in November.
NZB graduates had produced notable results from Hastings to Sha Tin, with Invincible Ibis, Hawea and Old Fashioned all adding significant victories to a strong weekend for New Zealand-connected horses.
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