South Island nursery Inglewood Stud will break new ground next month when it sends its first draft to the NZB Ready to Run Sale, marking a new chapter for one of New Zealand’s respected thoroughbred breeding operations.
Based in North Canterbury, Inglewood Stud is well known for the quality of its yearling drafts at Karaka. This time, however, the operation will take a different route, preparing two horses for the Ready to Run Sale and gaining its first experience at a sale regarded as a major international showcase for two-year-olds.
Inglewood Stud owner and operator Gus Wigley, who runs the farm with his wife Bianca, said the decision was a natural progression after seeing horses bred and raised by the operation perform well after being purchased as yearlings and later presented as two-year-olds.
“It’s a new thing for us,” Wigley said, explaining that the farm had decided to undertake the preparation itself after a quieter spring provided an opportunity to expand its involvement.
The operation will draw on the experience of its racing team, including Kayla Milnes and Jo Boakes. Milnes has been responsible for breaking and educating horses at Inglewood for an extended period, while both are closely involved with the farm’s daily racing operations.
Inglewood Stud Ready to Run Sale draft features two prospects
The Inglewood Stud Ready to Run Sale draft will comprise two horses.
Lot 319 is a gelding by Wild Ruler from a winning half-sister to Group Two winner Vanna Girl, a daughter of Husson. Lot 449 is a Profondo filly from an established Inglewood family descending from Group One winner Seamist, by Beaufort Sea.
Wigley said the Profondo filly had made particularly strong progress during her preparation and had developed into a substantial youngster.
A third prospect, a Harry Angel colt, was originally intended for the sale but was withdrawn. The colt will instead be given additional time before being prepared for a career with Inglewood.
The Wild Ruler gelding had also been entered for Karaka earlier in the year but suffered a superficial hock injury shortly before the sale. The timing ruled out his trip north, although he has since progressed well.
The geographical location of Inglewood Stud will add another logistical challenge. The two horses are due to travel north for the Breeze Ups before returning to North Canterbury for a period and then making the journey north again for the sale.
Wigley acknowledged that the schedule would be demanding but said the farm had settled on handling the preparation internally this year.
For Inglewood Stud, the venture represents an opportunity to broaden its sales programme while putting its horsemanship and young-horse education skills to another test.
Miss Waititi strengthens VRC Oaks claims
Across the Tasman, Karaka graduate Miss Waititi has emerged as a serious contender for next month’s Group One VRC Oaks after producing an emphatic performance in the A$175,000 Listed Super Impose Stakes over 1800 metres at Flemington on Saturday.
The Circus Maximus filly was part of the Karaka 2025 Book 1 draft offered by her co-breeders Windsor Park Stud, but she failed to reach her reserve at $80,000. She has since changed hands privately and has quickly built a promising record.
Miss Waititi has now raced three times, recording a black-type victory, a placing and A$112,125 in stakes.
After being purchased privately following a placing at the Avondale trials last December, she finished sixth at Sandown in June. A freshen-up followed, and she returned with an encouraging third over 1600 metres at Seymour on September 10.
The additional 200 metres at Flemington brought about a decisive step forward.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Miss Waititi settled sixth along the inside before finding her opportunity approaching the home turn. As the leaders moved away from the rail, Williams sent the filly through the opening.
She responded immediately, accelerating along the inside before drawing clear to score by two and a half lengths.
Williams was impressed with the improvement she had made between her Seymour outing and Flemington victory, while the addition of blinkers also appeared to sharpen her performance.
Trainer Mick Price, who prepares the filly in partnership with Michael Kent, confirmed that the Group One VRC Oaks over 2500 metres at Flemington on November 5 is now the intended target.
The decision follows a carefully planned progression through the distances. Rather than stepping immediately into the Edward Manifold Stakes over 1600 metres, the stable opted for the 1800-metre Super Impose Stakes as a better test of her staying potential.
That decision has now paid dividends, with Miss Waititi heading towards the Oaks with momentum and an increasingly compelling profile.
Her Flemington victory also underlines the depth of the Karaka graduate pathway, with the filly progressing from an unsold yearling to a black-type winner and now a potential Group One contender in the space of a few months.
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