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 Scone, we look at a colt that’s a half-brother to the very good Candika (Sebring), and at Geelong we focus in on a pair of horses. The first is a Star Witness colt from a full sister to Rothesay, and the second is an Iffraaj (GB) gelding who’s a three-quarter brother to Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Scone, Race 2, 12.45pm AEST, Cressfield Mdn, $25,000, 900m
Custo, 2-year-old colt (Deep Field x Divya {Danzero})
This colt is the fifth foal from the Danzero mare Divya, making him a half-brother to the Listed Princess S. winner Candika. Candika was good enough to run third to Capitalist in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and also third in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet.
This is the family of the very consistent stakes winner Astrodame, a Flying Spur half-sister to Divya, and further along there are the stakes winners Mahisara and Ulmann (Sebring). While this colt, Custo, was retained by his breeder, his full sister, Parineeti, was sold as a yearling in 2018 for $270,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Parineeti, a full-brother to Custo, pictured as a yearling in 2018 when she sold for $270,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Custo is trained locally by Stephen Jones, and he won a trial at home on June 29, a promising start. He has drawn barrier six in this race with jockey Grant Buckley.
Geelong, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1100m
Fast Witness, 2-year-old colt (Star Witness x Fast Shanti {Fastnet Rock})
This colt comes from the Ciaron Maher-David Eustace operation and he’s been smart so far. He won a Cranbourne trial on June 4 over Heavy going, and in this debut he has drawn awkwardly in barrier 12 with jockey Jye McNeil.
Fast Witness didn’t go through a yearling sale, but he was syndicated by his trainers. He’s the sixth foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Fast Shanti, who is a full sister to the dual Group winner and now stallion, Rothesay. She’s also a half-sister to the dual Listed winner Sensei.
Fast Witness as a yearling | Image courtesy of Ciaron Maher Racing
Fast Shanti, Rothesay and Sensei are all from the Woodman (USA) mare Schiaparelli, who herself is a full sister to Rock Diva (Woodman {USA}) and a half-sister to the stakes winners Astute Angel (Godswalk {USA}) and Causeway Lass (Giant’s Causeway {USA}). Eckstein, the dual Group 3-winning filly by I Am Invincible, also features prominently in this good family.
Geelong, Race 3, 2pm AEST, Technosoft Solution (Aust) P/L Mdn, $35,000, 1200m
Dreamt Ofbein King (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Iffraaj {GB} x Runway {NZ} {Pins})
This 3-year-old gelding is the first foal from the Pins mare Runway (NZ), who is a half-sister to the brilliant Te Akau horse Gingernuts, a winner of three Group 1s in New Zealand and Australia. Runway is also a half-sister to the Alamosa (NZ) mare Rideitlikeustoleit (NZ), who was third in the G3 Canterbury Breeders' S.
Dreamt Ofbein King (NZ) was consigned by Goodwood Stud to the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables for NZ$140,000.
Dreamt Ofbein King (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The gelding is co-owned by Ballymore and a syndicate that includes Ozzie Kheir (in whose colours he races) and Rupert Legh. Trained by Michael Moroney at Flemington, Dreamt Ofbein King is unraced, with no trials or jump-outs to date. He has drawn barrier seven in this debut with jockey Daniel Moor.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Thursday produced mixed results. At Gosford, Itsagooddeel (Dundeel {NZ}) was seventh and Thinking Rain (So You Think {NZ}) was an impressive 2.92l winner. At Bendigo, Let'sbefrankbaby (Frankel {GB}) was second.
