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 at Cranbourne, we pay attention to a Zoustar filly with a direct line to a pair of popular Group 1 winners, while at Goulburn we look at two horses. The first is a very well-bred filly for Fairway Thoroughbreds, and the second is a full brother to the Group 2-winning sprinter Snitty Kitty (Snitzel).
Cranbourne, Race 4, 7.15pm AEST, O’Brien Real Estate F&M Mdn, $35,000, 1200m
Climbing Star (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Bryony {Fastnet Rock})
This 2-year-old filly has plenty of page behind her. She is the fourth foal from the winning mare Bryony, who is a full sister to the multiple Group winners Triple Honour (NZ) (Honours List {Ire}) and Heroic Valour. Climbing Star (NZ) herself is a half-sister to the G3 Chatham S. winner Sansom (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
A daughter of Zoustar, she was consigned by Widden Stud to the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling, where she fetched the good price of $600,000 to Phillip Stokes Racing and Rick Connolly Bloodstock.
Climbing Star (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Climbing Star is trained at Pakenham by Stokes, and she will race in the colours of her breeder, Qatar Bloodstock. She’s had just a trial to date, running second to the daughter of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), I Am Caviar (I Am Invincible), at Traralgon in early May.
Goulburn, Race 3, 1.10pm AEST, TAB.com.au 2YO Mdn, $24,000, 1000m
Tailwinds, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Wild Rain {Manhattan Rain})
This unraced filly will compete in the colours of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds so, as expected, she has a tidy pedigree. She is the second foal from the excellent race mare Wild Rain, who won twice at Group level and twice at Listed level. Further along, this is the family of no less than Northerly (Serheed {USA}).
Tailwinds was bought for Camilleri by James Harron Bloodstock at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was consigned by Cressfield and sold for $610,000.
Tailwinds as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She is trained at Randwick by Michael Freedman, and she’s had three trials since January with a light rest in between. Her latest was a 2.65l victory at Randwick on May 16, which will do her well in this inexperienced field. She will carry jockey Grant Buckley from barrier two.
Goulburn, Race 5, 2.25pm AEST, Jewell Builders CG&E Mdn, $24,000, 1300m
Leica Storm, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Lassiter’s Cat {Tale Of The Cat {USA}})
This unraced colt is a full brother to the G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Snitty Kitty, who also won the Listed Lightning H. in Brisbane. This, as expected, is the Leica family, which includes Leica Western (Best Western), the dam of the G1 SAJC Australasian Oaks winner Leica Smile (At Talaq {USA}), and her full sister Leica Jewel, the dam of the G1 Victoria Derby winner Redding (NZ).
Leica Storm was consigned by Kitchwin Hills to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was passed in for $50,000 (his reserve was $55,000).
Leica Storm as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt is trained at Randwick by Michael Freedman, and he’s had two trials this month. He was second in the latest with jockey James McDonald, and he’ll have Rory Hutchings aboard in his debut from barrier 10.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections for Thursday fared only average. At Gosford, Kamitori (Divine Prophet) was second and Oakfield Duke (Into Mischief {USA}) was a scratching. At Pakenham, Regal Azmon (Magnus) was unplaced.
