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 Wednesday, we kick off with Airman (I Am Invincible), who will be out to make his presence felt on his first start for Randwick Kensington, while our second selection is the Annabel Neasham-trained Russian Queen (Russian Revolution) and she will be looking to get off the mark at the third time of asking.
Our final selection on Wednesday is the Chris Waller-trained colt Parallel (Redoute’s Choice) and he will be attempting to shed his maiden status this start when he lines up in the second race at Randwick Kensington.
Randwick Kensington, Race 1, 12.15pm AEST, Bowermans H.,$50,000, 1150m
Airman, 2-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Zara Bay {Fastnet Rock})
The Team Hawkes-trained Airman will make his belated debut when he lines up at Randwick Kensington on Wednesday. Ridden by William Pike, the son of I Am Invincible will jump from barrier 10.
The gelding was purchased by his trainers for $500,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2021 and he hails from one of the most exciting and active families in the Stud Book.
Airman as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Airman is out of Listed-placed mare Zara Bay (Fastnet Rock) and she is herself Group 3 winner Legally Bay (Snippets), who is better known as the dam of dual Group 1 winner and now Coolmore Stud-based sire Merchant Navy. Legally Bay also produced Group 2 scorer Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Setanta (Fastnet Rock).
Further back this is also the same family as Group 1 scorer Bonaria (Redoute’s Choice) and Group 2 winner Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}).
Eagle Farm, Race 2, 12.33pm AEST, XXXX Dry QTIS 2YO Mdn H., $37,000, 1200m
Russian Queen, 2-year-old filly (Russian Revolution x Gai’s Choice {General Nediym})
Having finished out of the placings in her first two starts, Russian Queen will be out to make it third time lucky when she takes aim at XXXX Dry QTIS 2YO Maiden H. at Eagle Farm.
Trained by Annabel Neasham, the 2-year-old filly is by Newgate Farm’s Champion First Season Sire elect Russian Revolution and she will be ridden on Wednesday by Samantha Collett in barrier six.
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Farm
Purchased by John Fowler for $50,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Russian Queen is out of Listed winner Gai’s Choice (General Nediym) making her a half-sister to Listed winner I Like It Easy (Pierro).
Gai’s Choice herself is a half-sister to Listed-winning pair Atmospherical (Northern Meteor) and Peron (Husson {Arg}) with the latter being the dam of last Saturday’s G3 WJ Healy S. winner Juan Diva (Snitzel).
Randwick Kensington, Race 2, 12.50pm AEST, TAB H., $50,000, 1150m
Parallel, 2-year-old colt (Redoute’s Choice x Malala {Jpn} {Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}})
Trainer Chris Waller will be hoping Parallel can make a winning debut over 1150 metres at Kensington on Wednesday. The colt, from the final crop of Arrowfield Stud’s late breed-shaping stallion Redoute’s Choice, will jump from barrier two with Chad Schofield set to take the ride.
The colt was bought by Waller and his bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster for $400,000 at the 2021 edition of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and he is out of unplaced mare Malala (Jpn) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}).
Parallel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Malala herself is a daughter of Mandela (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) and is the dam of five winners, spearheaded by Grade 1 winner World Premiere (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Grade 2 scorer World Ace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Listed scorer Weltreisende (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}).
Looking Back
Our first selection for Tuesday's runners, King Rupert (Winning Rupert), was scratched on raceday morning, while our second pick, Nonno Joe (Bon Hoffa) finished last of 13 runners at Townsville. We finished the day off with a winner when the James Cummings-trained Chopin (Exceed And Excel) made his debut a winning debut when he saluted the judge at Ballarat-Synthetic.
