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 Friday, we look at a hot filly in Listed company at The Valley, plus a Lyndhurst Stud Farm juvenile at Toowoomba from the smart family of Furnaces (Exceed And Excel). At Albury, we pay attention to a filly whose juvenile half-brother won at Eagle Farm earlier this week.
Moonee Valley, Race 3, 7.15pm AEDT, Listed Food Services Valley Pearl, $160,000, 1200m
Nanagui, 2-year-old filly (Sebring x Shamalia {Shamardal {USA}})
This filly is in a hot field of well-bred juveniles, but she comes into this race with excellent race form. In two starts, Nanagui has been second to Sebonack (Capitalist) in the G3 Chairman’s S. last month, and second again at Flemington earlier this month to Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders' S.
Trained by Peter Moody, Nanagui races in the colours of Rosemont Stud, and she was picked up by that operation for $450,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Nanagui as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Nanagui is the third foal from the Group 3 and Listed-winning broodmare Shamalia. That mare is a half-sister to the stakes winner Emperor’s Way (Roman Emperor {NZ}) and, further along, this page boasts stakes winners in America and Europe, including the G1 Hollywood Derby and G1 Hollywood Turf Cup winner Super Quercus (Fr) (Hero’s Honor {USA}).
Toowoomba, Race 4, 8.30pm AEDT (7.30pm local), Darryl Gollan Memorial QTIS 2YO H., $40,000, 870m
Fiery Ring, 2-year-old gelding (Sebring x Scorched {Exceed And Excel})
This unraced gelding was bred and is raced by Lyndhurst Stud Farm and, trained locally by Kevin Kemp, he was an easy second in a Toowoomba trial this month at his sole appearance to date. He’s in good company in this field, the majority of his rivals also being maidens.
Fiery Ring was initially consigned to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, but he was withdrawn by Lyndhurst Stud Farm and retained.
Fiery Ring as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He comes with an interesting pedigree, being a son of the Exceed And Excel mare Scorched, who is a full sister to the G3 Kindergarten S. winner Furnaces. The latter was second in the G2 Todman S. also, with a further three placings in stakes races. This is also the smart family of the top-ranking filly Melito (Redoute’s Choice) and her three-quarter brother and now Arrowfield sire Pariah.
Albury, Race 1, 1pm AEDT, Twin City Truck Centre Showcase Mdn, $30,000, 1175m
Miss Hoff, 3-year-old filly (Flying Artie x Beach Babe {Falvelon})
This filly is a half-sister to the Astern 2-year-old Hang Five, who won at Eagle Farm just two days ago in fetching fashion by 2.25l. It was that colt’s second start off a first-start runner-up, so there is ability in this family.
Miss Hoff is trained by the Waterhouse-Bott operation, and she was out of her depth on debut last preparation when unplaced behind Enthaar (Written Tycoon) in the G3 Gimcrack S. She’s sat back since then, and the stable has a consistent habit of bringing these inexperienced but talented horses to this district as a confidence boost.
Miss Hoff as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Miss Hoff was sold by Glenlogan Park at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, bought by Vantage Thoroughbreds for $120,000. Her dam is a half-sister to Irish Darling (Ivory’s Irish), who was first home in both the G1 SAJC Australasian Oaks and G2 South Australian Oaks, and who was later the dam of the late sire Fighting Sun.
Looking Back
Our Thursday selections for Looking Ahead went only reasonably. At Hawkesbury, Givara (All Too Hard) was second while at Albury, I Am Richenuff (Rich Enuff) was unplaced. At Ipswich, Project Paperclip (Star Witness) was also unplaced.
