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On the eve of the eagerly anticipated 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, a graduate of the 2019 edition played a starring role at Riccarton on Monday.

Aljay (NZ) (Rock 'N' Pop) prevailed in a desperate finish to the $300,000 Group Three Martin Collins 159th New Zealand Cup (3200m). Bought for $10,000 from the 2018 Karaka May Sale and $39,000 at the Ready to Run Sale a year later, the gelding has now earned $263,487 in a 17-start, four-win career.

Aljay was given a perfect New Zealand Cup preparation by astute trainer Kevin Myers, kicking off with a four-length win in Rating 75 grade at Riccarton in August. He then finished second on the opening day of the Hawke's Bay Spring Carnival, second at Hawera in early October, fourth at Trentham over Labour Weekend and second in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) on the first day of New Zealand Cup Week. The famous Riccarton two-miler was always the target, and on Monday he hit the bullseye.

A solid pace turned the race into a stern test of stamina, and a pair of Karaka graduates strode to the front together in the straight to fight out the finish. They drew more than six lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Aljay was tested every step of the way by Inmyshadow (NZ) (Ferlax), who cost only $6000 as a weanling and $8000 as a yearling. But Aljay and rider Tina Comignaghi were able to find that little bit more, gaining the upper hand in the final few strides to claim a memorable win by a long head.

"We got a perfect run, we never lost any momentum and the horse gave plenty," Comignaghi said. "It's a big race and one I've always wanted to win. It's great. Kevin has always supported me."

Aljay is also owned by Myers in partnership with close friend Charlie Gestro. Adding to the family flavour, runner-up Inmyshadow is trained and part-owned by Myers' nephew Ashley Meadows.

Myers himself bought Inmyshadow as a yearling and trained him in the early stages of his career, but gifted the gelding to Meadows and his fellow owners as a replacement for a horse that sadly broke down.

"That was a 10-out-of-10 ride by Tina," Myers' son Jason said. "She kicked clear, but then my cousin's horse came at her, so Dad would have been sweating at home that he might have given away the winner.

"But it was good to get one over on Ashley, as there had been a bit of talk back and forward over the last couple of months.

"We were confident heading into the Metropolitan, where we were just beaten by a horse that got the better run in the race. Tina just bided her time today and presented him at the top of the straight, and the horse was really good.

"It's been a long week and we've been a bit unlucky with a few, but we got the one we wanted."

Aljay became the third stakes winner in just over a week to come out of the Ready to Run Sale, with Lincoln's Kruz (Kuroshio) and Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax) collecting blacktype prizes last weekend at Riccarton and Sha Tin respectively.

The 2022 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will be held at Karaka on November 16 and 17, with selling starting at 11am each day.