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.
Friday, we take a look at a half-sister to Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}) debuting at Muswellbrook, plus a China Horse Club colt at Geelong from a well-related Group 3 winner. At Cranbourne, we’ve got an unraced juvenile from a tidy Group-winning family.
Muswellbrook, Race 1, 1.15pm AEDT, Power FM Starmaker 2YO H., $30,000, 1000m
Writrose, 2-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Ballet Rose {Exceed And Excel})
This unraced filly is from the Warwick Farm stable of Annabel Neasham, and she is raced by the IRON syndicate, who purchased her for $420,000 in partnership with George Moore Bloodstock at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Writrose as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Writrose is the first foal from the Vinery Stud resident Ballet Rose, and Ballet Rose is a half-sister to both the G2 Alister Clark S. winner Hardham (Redoute’s Choice) and the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner King’s Rose (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice). In turn, King’s Rose is the dam of Satono Arthur (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a dual Group-winner in Japan.
Writrose has had three trials leading into her first race, the latest of which was a fifth at Warwick Farm in Heavy going to Swift Sweet (Snitzel). She will have jockey Shaun Guymer from barrier 10.
Geelong, Race 1, 12.50pm AEDT, bet365 Odds Drift Protector Mdn, $25,000, 1135m
Don’t Hesitate, 3-year-old colt (Snitzel x Nayeli {More Than Ready {USA}})
Don’t Hesitate is unraced at the Mornington stable of Anthony and Sam Freedman, and his three good trials have all come as far back as early last year when he was with the Waterhouse-Bott stable. Now in Victoria, he’s had three good jump-outs, the latest of which resulted in a win over 1000 metres at Balnarring.
Don't Hesitate as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This colt is the third foal from the dual Group 3 winner Nayeli, and this is the superb family of the Centaine mare Kapchat (NZ). It’s been responsible for such stakes winners as Kaphero (NZ), Star Of Giselle (Reset) and Solicit (Street Cry {Ire}).
Don’t Hesitate is raced by the Newgate-China Horse Club partnership, which picked him up at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $440,000. He was consigned by Newgate Farm.
Cranbourne, Race 2, 6.15pm AEDT, If We All Get Home Safely, Everyone Wins 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1000m
Count Of Toulouse, 2-year-old gelding (Lonhro x Fromparis Withlove {Smart Missile})
This unraced gelding is coming into this event off two winning jump-outs for the Matt Laurie yard, so he’s on song for this debut appearance. He’s in a field largely filled with debutants, and he will carry Ethan Brown from barrier 11.
Count Of Toulouse was bred by Woodside Park and consigned to the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. He was bought by Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) and G1 Goldmine for $140,000.
Count Of Toulouse as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The 2-year-old is the first foal from the stakes-placed mare Fromparis Withlove, who is a daughter of the Listed Chester Manifold S. winner Umaquest (Umatilla {NZ}). That makes Fromparis Withlove a half-sister to the Exceed And Excel Group 3 winner Yattarna.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections for Thursday resulted in a mixed bag of results. At Newcastle, Compelling Truth (I Am Invincible) was scratched while Mystic Mermaid (Fastnet Rock) was third. At Kyneton, Jolie Christine (Pride Of Dubai) was unplaced.
