Cover image courtesy of Inglis
Nolen Racing have a draft of 15 2-year-olds entered for the 2024 Inglis ReadyToRace Sale and owner Tal Nolen has been preparing horses for this type of sale for long enough that he’s pragmatic about the sale and his horses. His experience at the sale is borne out in the number of good winners that come through his system and drafts.
“Everyone’s ambition is to make money, sometimes you do and sometimes you don’t. Having the graduates is the most important thing, you’ve got to have some winners, for sure, to sell the next lot,” Nolen said.
Good graduates are key
Last year’s draft already includes debutant winner 3-year-old He’s In Like Flynn (Showtime) who was purchased by Newgate for $350,000. He won for trainer Blake Ryan as a late 2-year-old, and has been sent to Hong Kong. Beer Baron (Cosmic Force) came out of this sale and ran second on debut in the R. Listed Nursery Plate only a couple of months after the sale.
Beer Baron (black cap) | Image courtesy of Ashlean Brennan
“We specialise in the 2-year-olds, it suits our program and we’re geared for that type of horse. I’m not so into the breeding, it’s too hard. It’s better to see them. All of ours are yearling purchases. We’ve sold a few handy ones, Libertad and others.”
In 2022, Nolen Racing presented eight horses at this sale, and Libertad (Russian Revolution) came out flying, being unbeaten at two including the G3 Kindergarten S. for trainer Annabel Neasham. He added the G3 San Domenico S. at three for earnings over $430,000, a decent return on his $210,000 sale price.
Libertad | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The same draft included Verdad (Justify {USA}) who turned his $150,000 purchase by Griffiths de Kock Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) into over $370,000 for his racing owners, including a win and was three times Group placed as well as fifth in both the G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Australian Guineas. Bowser (All Too Hard) is a winner in Hong Kong with earnings over HK$1.2million (AU$220,000).
Professionalism is lifting across this sale
Nolen has noticed a rise in the professional approach to 2-year-old breeze up sales in Australia.
“There’s a few blokes who specialise in it now, and the standard has definitely improved, (especially) the quality of the animal and how they run down. It used to be like the wild west, now it’s pretty professional.
“I think it’s a good way to buy a horse. You can see their action properly; at the yearling sales you are only guessing. Here you can see their temperament, everything, it’s all there for you and there’s a lot of data now too.”
“I think it’s a good way to buy a horse. You can see their action properly; at the yearling sales you are only guessing. Here you can see their temperament, everything, it’s all there for you and there’s a lot of data now too.” - Tal Nolen
Nolen's draft picks
“Three or four really nice horses stand out. There’s a Hanseatic and a Zousain who are really nice horses. The Ole Kirk looks like he’ll be a good horse, and the other Ole Kirk will be great when he’s gelded.”
The Hanseatic, Lot 114, is the second foal of winning mare Musicmaker (All Too Hard) who is a half-sister to stakes winner Just As Sharp (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and his second dam is Listed winner Readydor (More Than Ready {USA}). He breezed in 10.39.
Zousain is a sire on the rise, and his colt, Lot 186, is out of juvenile winner Totally Sure (Not A Single Doubt) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Tuscan Sling (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), and to the dams of stakes winners Assertive Approach (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) and Kiwia (Reset). He breezed in 10.34.
Gallery: Some of Nolen Racing's 2-year-olds on offer, images courtesy of Inglis
Nolen, cleverly, didn’t mention which of the two Ole Kirks needed gelding, so take your pick of Lot 127 and 133! Lot 127, who breezed in 10.69, is out of proven mare Plaque (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) whose four winners have won 18 races collectively. Plaque is a daughter of dual Oaks winner Zacheline (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Lot 133, who breezed in 11.35, is a half-brother to G3 Star Kingdom Handicap winner Vegadaze (Lope De Vega {Ire}), out of a full sister to Listed Parramatta Cup winner Deltona (Commands).
“We have a Star Turn whose nice. They’ll all make racehorses. The Written Tycoon and the All Too Hard will both make racehorses. It’s a pretty even draft."
Lot 62, the Star Turn colt, who breezed up in 10.82, is the second foal of Gypsy Miss (Denman) who won seven races, five in succession, and is a half-sister to Group 1-placed juvenile stakes winner Sagaronne (Real Saga). Breezing up in 11.01, the Written Tycoon is Lot 143, out of Dubawi (Ire) mare Salamati (Ger) who comes from the same family as young stallion Sound (Ger). The All Too Hard, Lot 94 who breezed in 10.82, is the third foal of a young winning mare from the family of Suzy Grey (County) who won 10 races including the G2 Swettenham Stud S.
“There are quite a few by young sires. The Exceedance is a strong horse. I do like the ones by young sires.”
“There are quite a few by young sires... I do like the ones by young sires.” - Tal Nolen
Lot 187, the Exceedance colt is out of unraced mare Tranquil Harmony (Dream Ahead {USA}) who is a half-sister to group winner Suyoof (Magic Albert) and Charmed Harmoney (Hussonet {USA}). He breezed over the furlong in 11.06s.
“We have two Zoustars. One is more a 3-year-old type, and the other one is a smaller later foal who has needed some time.”
The two Zoustars are Lot 40, who breezed in 11.25s, is a colt who is the first foal of Dollymolly (I Am Invincible), a half-sister to Listed winner Harlem River (Fastnet Rock) from the family of Yes Yes Yes; and Lot 169, who breezed in 10.91, is a colt out of G2 Woodbine Natalma S. winner Spring Venture (USA) (Spring At Last {USA}) dam of 4-year-old mare Eraantyva (Zoustar) who is a winner from only three starts to date.
“We all get carried away and the reality is some will be good and some won’t. Anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves. Buyers do the stats on you now too, and the proofs in the pudding.
“It’s become really professional.”
