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.
Thursday at Newcastle, we take a look at an American Pharoah (USA) filly that is a half-sister to Solar Star (Zoustar), while at Pakenham we pay attention to two horses, a colt from the family of three Champion 2-year-olds and a So You Think (NZ) filly from a Group 3-winning half-sister to a New Zealand Horse of the Year.
Newcastle, Race 3, 2.25pm AEDT, Kloster Motor Group 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1300m
Yankee Hussel, 2-year-old filly (American Pharoah {USA} x Petty Cury {Not A Single Doubt})
This filly is a half-sister to Solar Star (Zoustar), who won the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic, and both are from the Not A Single Doubt mare Petty Cury, who was a Group 3 winner in her time and also well-related. Petty Cury is a daughter of Bahira (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), who was also a Group 3 winner and placed at stakes level.
This is a strong New Zealand family going back to Auckland Group 1 winner Conifer Bay (NZ) (Virginia Privateer {USA}), and this 2-year-old filly was a 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate. She was offered by Fernrigg Farm and sold to Tasman Bloodstock for $120,000.
Yankeee Hussel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Yankee Hussel is trained at this track by Kris Lees, and this race will be her first race. She has good trial form behind her this preparation, with a fourth in late January and a second at Gosford on a Soft 6 a fortnight ago. She’s got Jason Collett and barrier five in this event.
Pakenham, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Tom Scanlon 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1200m
Yaki Ishi, 2-year-old colt (Maurice {Jpn} x Merlene De Lago {Encosta De Lago})
The name ‘Merlene’ instantly pulls up memories of the 1996 Golden Slipper winner and, in the case of this 2-year-old colt, Merlene (Danehill {USA}) features as the second dam on his page. Yaki Ishi is the eighth foal from Merlene De Lago, who was a daughter of Merlene, and this is a stout pedigree.
Both the second and third dams in this colt’s family were Champion 2-year-olds, while Merlene De Lago was a two-time Group winner. This is the same family as the three-time Group 1 winner Miss Pennymoney (Brocco {USA}) and Newgate’s boom sire Capitalist. Capitalist’s appearance makes it three Champion 2-year-olds on this page alone.
Yaki Ishi as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Yaki Ishi is trained by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock, who purchased him in conjunction with Peter Ford Thorougbreds (FBAA) and Heywood Bloodstock for $180,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. The colt is unraced, but he was second in a recent trial at Cranbourne this month and, in a strong field, he will have Craig Williams and barrier 11.
Pakenham, Race 5, 7.45pm AEDT, Tara Brown Takes On Sportsbet 3YO Fillies Mdn, $35,000, 1400m
So You See, 3-year-old filly (So You Think {NZ} x Lady Cumquat {Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}})
This unraced filly for Flemington trainer Mike Moroney is the second foal from Lady Cumquat, who won the G3 Manawatu Classic during her racing career and was good enough to be twice-placed at Group level in Australia. She packs a strong pedigree too, being a half-sister to New Zealand Horse of the Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), who won seven Group races, including the G1 Australian Oaks, G1 Underwood S. and G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Lady Cumquat is a half-sister to no less than six stakes winners who, between them, notched up 12 stakes races. It’s little wonder this filly, So You See, was retained by her breeder, Peter Newsom.
So You See will race for the first time in this event, one of only two debutants in the race with her stablemate Heavan (Snitzel). She has drawn barrier three and will carry Jamie Mott.
Looking Back
Our Wednesday selections in Looking Ahead went well. At Sandown, Cateechee (Lonhro) was third and Dancelittlesister (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) was second, while at Launceston, Dramazing (Artie Schiller {USA}) was fourth.
