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.
Sunday’s selections kick off with a seven-figure yearling purchase in action at Ballarat. We then take in a well-credentialled first-starter at Murray Bridge, and we finish up with a 3-year-old filly in the Coolmore colours at Bairnsdale.
Ballarat, Race 1, 1.20pm AEDT, Bartlett Blinds 2YO Mdn Plate, $25,000, 1100m
Wilbury, 2-year-old colt (Capitalist x Miss Interiors {Flying Spur})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Wilbury finished ninth on debut in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate in the spring, and his only other start was a runner-up finish at Moonee Valley on February 25. Connections will be hoping for third time lucky on Sunday, where John Allen will take the mount from gate nine in a 10-horse field.
Wilbury was offered by breeders Torryburn Stud at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was bought by James Harron Bloodstock for $1,050,000.
He is by Capitalist out of the three-time winning mare Miss Interiors, which makes him a half-brother to one of Australian racing’s most valuable prospects, Home Affairs (I Am Invincible).
Wilbury as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
From three foals to race, Miss Interiors has produced two winners and two black-type performers – Home Affairs, whose four wins include brilliant performances in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and Lightning S., and the G1 Caulfield Guineas runner-up Aysar (Deep Field).
Adding to a power-packed pedigree page, Miss Interiors is also a half-sister to Group 1 winner and exciting sire Russian Revolution, as well as G3 Frances Tressady S. winner Turbo Miss (Sebring).
Murray Bridge, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT (1.15pm local), Magic Millions Mdn Plate, $21,800, 900m
Havoc, 3-year-old gelding (Brazen Beau x Military Miss {Charge Forward})
Local trainers Sue and Jason Jaensch will unveil well-related debutant Havoc at Murray Bridge. The gelding will be ridden by apprentice Sophie Logan and jumps from gate five.
Havoc was bred by the Heinrich Bloodstock Syndicate, and he was a member of Alexia Fraser Bloodstock’s draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bought by James Harron Bloodstock for $420,000.
By Brazen Beau, Havoc is a son of the Charge Forward mare Military Miss, a winning daughter of the G1 Lightning S. and Australia S. winner Regimental Gal (General Nediym). The winner of seven races and more than $1.6 million, Regimental Gal was Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in Australia in 2003/04.
Havoc as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Regimental Gal has also made an impact in the broodmare barn, producing seven winners from eight foals to race. The G3 Triscay S. winner Lilliburlero (Redoute’s Choice) heads that list, while Vimy (Redoute’s Choice) placed in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks. Both of those stakes-performed daughters also became black-type broodmares in their own right, with Vimy producing the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Souchez (Lonhro) while Lilliburlero is the dam of the multiple Listed placegetter Regimental Band (I Am Invincible).
Havoc is the first named foal out of Military Miss, who produced a Zoustar colt in 2020 that was bought by Mick Price Racing for $280,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bairnsdale, Race 3, 2.10pm AEDT, Tim Bull Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1200m
Botany, 3-year-old filly (American Pharoah {USA} x Private {Encosta De Lago})
Peter Moody heads to Bairnsdale with Botany, a first-starter in the world-famous navy blue colours of Coolmore.
Bought by Moody Racing for $150,000 from the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Botany is by Triple Crown winner and quality sire American Pharoah (USA) out of Private, who is an unraced half-sister to stakes winners Tully Dane (Danehill {USA}) and Mygoodgrace (Royal Academy {USA}). Their dam Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) won the G1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S.
Botany as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Other close relatives include Group 1 winners Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}).
Private is the dam of seven foals to race, six of them winners, headed by Believe Yourself (Sebring), who won five races including the G2 Sweet Embrace S. and also ran fourth in the Golden Slipper.
Looking Back
Aitch Two Oh (Headwater) provided a perfect start for our Saturday selections, winning at Morphettville. Yaki Ishi (Maurice {Jpn}) finished fifth at Mornington, while Boyfriend (Snitzel) didn’t cope with the testing Heavy track at Rosehill and was eased down in the straight.
