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 Sunday, we kick off with Happy Family, a 2-year-old colt from the first crop of Aquis Farm-based sire Invader, who makes his debut at Geelong. We then head to Muswellbrook, where a well-related filly by Written Tycoon, Ballon Bleu, will take her chance over 900 metres for Team Snowden. The day is completed by Bokuden (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who will make his first racecourse appearance over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast.
Geelong, Race 1, 12.20pm AEST, bet365 Odds Drift Protector 2YO Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1212m
Happy Family, 2-year-old colt (Invader x Swan River {Danehill Dancer {Ire}})
Powerhouse trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will be hoping Happy Family can get his career off to the best possible start when he steps out on debut over 1212 metres at Geelong on Sunday.
The son of Aquis Farm’s first-season sire Invader will break from barrier seven with Jamie Kah booked to take the ride.
Happy Family was purchased by James Bester Bloodstock for $75,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in 2020, before being snapped up by Maher for $550,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale the following year and he was the most expensive yearling by the sire in 2021.
Happy Family as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
On Sunday, the colt is aiming to become the sixth winner out of Swan River and her produce is headed by Group 2 winner Victoria Quay (Dundeel {NZ}), who was purchased by Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $600,000 at last week’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Swan River herself is a sister to Group 2 scorer Lieutenant (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), while she also counts fellow Group 2 winner Count Encosta (Encosta De Lago) among her half-siblings.
Muswellbrook, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, Greg Cribb Memorial Red Crown 2YO H., $29,000, 900m
Ballon Bleu, 2-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Lady Cartier {Fastnet Rock})
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Ballon Bleu will be making her first racecourse appearance when she tackles this 900-metre contest at Muswellbrook on Sunday.
The 2-year-old filly will be ridden by apprentice Reece Jones and will line up in the widest barrier 16.
Ballon Bleu as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Purchased by her owners Vinery Stud for $300,000 at last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, the filly is out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Lady Cartier and she herself is a three-quarter sister to dual Group 1-winning Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and her Listed-winning brother Groundswell (Fastnet Rock).
The filly hails from one of the most popular families in Australia, with her third dam being Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) and she is better known for producing three Group 1 winners Manhattan Rain, Platinum Scissors and important late sire Redoute’s Choice.
Sunshine Coast, Race 2, 1.35pm AEST, Martin Collins Australia QTIS 2YO H., $24,000, 1000m
Bokuden, 2-year-old colt (Deep Impact {Jpn} x Admire Pink {Jpn} {King Kamehameha {Jpn}})
Bokuden will make his debut at the Sunshine Coast for trainer Lee Freedman and he will jump from barrier seven with Brodie Loy in the plate.
Purchased by his owners Nxt Level Syndications for $350,000 from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year, Bokuden is the first runner out of his Listed-placed dam Admire Pink (Jpn).
Bokuden as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Admire Pink herself is out of Argentinian Grade 1 scorer Studentessa (Arg) (High Yield {USA}) and she produced three other winners, while she hails from the same family as Grade 3 winner Good Student (Arg) (Louis Quatorze {USA}) and Listed winner The Student (Arg) (Mutakddim {USA}).
Looking Back
The well-related Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro) lived up to his high-class pedigree when he made a winning debut for trainer Chris Waller at Rosehill, while our second selection Ghaanati (Deep Impact {Jpn}) also shed her maiden status when she produced an impressive performance at Flemington. Meanwhile, our final pick, Cannoli (I Am Invincible) finished fifth on debut at Bendigo.
