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.
On Saturday, we will kickstart the day in the opening event at Randwick with a high-priced Aquis-owned colt before turning our attention to a blueblood son of I Am Invincible.
We will then return to Randwick to wrap things up in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium with a half-sister to Away Game (Snitzel).
Randwick, Race 1, 12.25pm AEDT, Listed Lonhro Plate, $140,000, 1000m
Boyfriend, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Exclusive Lass {Nicconi})
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Boyfriend looks forward enough to figure on debut after finishing third in two trials to date. He raced handy in both and stayed on well to finish no worse than 1.3l off the winner.
Boyfriend has drawn superbly in barrier three of nine and has shown the tactical speed to take up a forward position if Josh Parr opts to do so.
A $750,000 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Tony Fung Investments from the draft of Willow Park Stud, Boyfriend is the second foal out of the Listed-winning, Group-3 placed Exclusive Lass, making him a half-brother to Chris Waller’s 3-year-old city winner Cape Breton (Vancouver).
Boyfriend as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Exclusive Lass dam World Exclusive (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) is a half-sister to the dams of dual Group 1 winner turned Newhaven Park stallion Xtravagant (NZ) and G3 Tesio S. heroine Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
G1 Herbie Dyke S. winner Tiptronic (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and dual New Zealand Group 1 winner Legs (NZ) (Pins) feature in this family.
Caulfield, Race 4, 2.25pm AEDT, Lamaro’s Hotel Chairman’s S., $200,000, 1000m
New Hampshire, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Lipari {Redoute’s Choice})
The Michael Moroney-trained New Hampshire steps out on debut after winning a Flemington jump-out on January 21.
The Rupert Legh-owned juvenile has the quality to figure on debut but will be set a task after drawing the far outside, barrier nine. Jordan Childs has been booked to ride the well-bred galloper.
A $600,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Mike Moroney, New Hampshire is a half-brother to G1 Australian Derby winner Levendi (Pierro), G3 Premier’s Cup winner Wu Gok (Sebring) and G3 National S. hero Marcel From Madrid (Sepoy).
The quartet’s Listed-placed dam Lipari is out of G1 Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch {USA}), who herself is out of New Zealand Group 2 winner Fleur De Chine (NZ) (Centaine).
The G1 Blue Diamond S.-placed Zamzam (Redoute’s Choice), who is the dam of R. Listed Inglis Millennium fancy Zambezi River (I Am Invincible), features alongside fellow Group 1 placegetters Fleur De’here (NZ) (Dehere {USA}) and Thunder Lady (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in this pedigree.
Randwick, Race 6, 3.25pm AEDT, R. Listed Inglis Millennium, $2 million, 1100m
The Seven Seas, 2-year-old filly (Merchant Navy x Elusive Wonder {Elusive Quality {USA}})
The John Sargent-trained The Seven Seas resumes after finishing sixth in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery on debut. She has since trialled at Randwick, finishing third behind Russian Roni (Russian Revolution) over 743 metres on January 24.
She is a filly with plenty of quality but has drawn awkwardly, barrier 15 of 16.
Purchased by Mark Pilkington and Darren Thomas of Seymour Bloodstock for $280,000 at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Segenhoe Stud, The Seven Seas was bred by Peter O’Brien and Chris and Jane Barham.
The Seven Seas as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She is out of the Listed Chairman S.-placed Elusive Wonder, making her a half-sister to R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Away Game (Snitzel) and the stakes-winning, dual Group 3-placed Modern Wonder (Snitzel).
Elusive Wonder herself is a half-sister to Listed winner Tantra (Royal Academy {USA}) and hails from the extended family of multiple Group 1 winner Inference (So You Think {NZ}) and G2 Carbine Club S. victor Ranier (Lonhro).
Looking Back
Friday’s Looking Ahead saw Maly Malt (Capitalist) and The Sultan (Pride Of Dubai) finish fourth at Werribee and Canberra respectively, while Royal Dress (I Am Invincible) ran sixth at Moonee Valley.
