Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
Wednesday at Wyong, we pay attention to a half-brother to dynamic filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) and a filly who is chasing a berth in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January, plus and an unraced 3-year-old gelding at Sandown from a multiple stakes winner in New Zealand.
Wyong, Race 4, 3.30pm AEDT, Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO S., $100,000, 1200m
Snitzonfire (Snitzel x Piping Hot {More Than Ready {USA}})
Snitzonfire is a half-brother to the current boom filly Coolangatta, the latter a juvenile winner of this year’s G3 Gimcrack S. and now a lofty favourite for the $2 million R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic next month.
This 3-year-old gelding kicked off a stellar career of his own for the Waterhouse-Bott stable with three wins on the trot this campaign, and he wasn’t disgraced last time out when fourth at a Saturday Rosehill meeting to Starman (Zoustar). With Tim Clark aboard for this race, he is one of the more credentialled and well-bred in the field.
Snitzonfire was bred by Highclere Racing at Milburn Creek, and he was a $425,000 purchase at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, bought by Waterhouse, Bott and Mt Hallowell Stud.
Snitzonfire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Wyong, Race 6, 4.40pm AEDT, R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, $200,000, 1100m
Miss Hellfire, 2-year-old filly (Hellbent x Peace Time {USA} {War Front {USA}})
This unraced filly boasts a faultless trial record so far, with a pair of firsts from as many trial appearances at Randwick. She comes from the Snowden yard, which has such a strong record with 2-year-olds, and she will have Kerrin McEvoy aboard for this important qualifying race for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January.
Miss Hellfire is from the first crop of Hellbent yearlings, which have drawn attention in trials this season, and she is the second foal from the American mare Peace Time (USA) (War Front {USA}), who was imported to Australia by SF Bloodstock. This is the immediate family of G2 Hollywood Oaks winner Santa Catarina (USA) (Unbridled {USA}), who was also placed in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and G1 Kentucky Oaks.
Miss Hellfire is a half-sister to Xtremetime, the first of the Extreme Choice foals and a metro winner in Sydney last season as a juvenile. This filly is raced by Triple Crown Syndications, which is often on the money with its well-priced, early running yearlings.
Miss Hellfire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Ladbrokes Park Hillside, Race 1, 3.40pm AEDT, Ladbrokes It! Plate, $50,000, 1300m
Peribaldo (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Dalghar {Fr} x Cassini {Reset})
This gelding comes from the Lindsay Park yard of Ben and JD Hayes and he’s been very good in two recent winning trials through late November and early December. He comes into this race as one of four debutants in the field, and he’s drawn well in barrier three.
Peribaldo (NZ) was a purchase for bloodstock agent John Foote at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, appearing in Book 1 for Woburn Farm. He was bought for NZ$130,000 and races for the Hong Kong-based Price Bloodstock Management.
The gelding is the second foal from the Reset mare Cassini, who was a winner of the G3 Manawatu Cup and twice a winner of the Listed Wanganui Cup. Cassini is a half-sister to the Written Tycoon mare Prestigious Miss, who was twice-placed in Group company.
Peribaldo (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Looking Back
It was a particularly good day for our Looking Ahead selections on Tuesday. Rupertson (Winning Rupert) won at Orange, while Yonce (Proisir) was successful in her race at Mornington. The third of our trio, Pannawonica (Nicconi), was unplaced.