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 Saturday we kick off at Rosehill with an expensive colt by Not A Single Doubt, who will be attempting to shed his maiden status on his third start. We then head to Flemington and all eyes will be on the well-bred filly Salaasel (Fastnet Rock) who will be making her debut in the Trevor Clarke H. Our final selection is the Peter Moody-trained He’s Heaven (Zoustar) and he will look to add a first win and first stakes race to his CV when he lines up in the Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 1, 11.10am AEST, Furphy H., $150,000, 1400m
Diaco, 2-year-old colt (Not A Single Doubt x Soleil Brulant {I Am Invincible})
This expensive son of Not A Single Doubt will attempt to get off the mark at the third time of asking when he lines up at Rosehill on Saturday. Trained by Chris Waller and raced by an ownership group which includes Coolmore, Diaco has drawn barrier nine for the 1400-metre contest.
The colt was purchased by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $1.5 million at the 2021 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Sledmere Stud draft. Diaco is out of the unraced I Am Invincible mare Soleil Brulant and she is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Harlem Heat (Fastnet Rock).
Diaco as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Further back this is the same family as Group 3 scorer Hot As Hell (County) and Listed-winning duo Flaming Hot (County) and Craig’s Dragon (Catbird). Meanwhile, dual Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief) and Coolmore Stud resident Yes Yes Yes, who won the 2019 The Everest, also feature on the page.
Flemington, Race 1, 12pm AEST, Trevor Clarke H., $130,000, 1000m
Salaasel, 2-year-old filly (Fastnet Rock x Salma {Encosta De Lago})
Salaasel, who is bred and raced by Emirates Park, will be making her debut for training partnership Peter and Paul Snowden when she tackles the Trevor Clarke H. at Flemington and she will jump from barrier 10 with Jamie Kah booked to take the ride.
She is a daughter of Coolmore Stud-based sire Fastnet Rock and out of unraced mare Salma (Encosta De Lago) making her a sister to G2 Stan Fox S. winner and Group 1-placed Hilal, while she is also a half-sister to Listed-winning pair Salateen (I Am Invincible) and Trojan Harbour (Harbour Watch {Ire}).
Fastnet Rock | Standing at Coolmore
Salma, whose three winners have not only been winners but all stakes winners, is herself out of Listed scorer Salameh (Secret Savings {USA}), and she produced four winners headed by Big Time (Danewin), whose most high-profile win came in the Listed TL Baillieu H.
Morphettville Parks, Race 5, 2.32pm AEST, Listed Oaklands Plate, $107,250, 1400m
He’s Heaven, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Lights Of Heaven {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}})
Having finished second on debut, the Peter Moody-trained He’s Heaven will be thrust into stakes company on only his second start when he tackles the Listed Oaklands Plate. The 2-year-old colt will line up in barrier seven with Jason Benbow booked to take the ride.
Bred and raced by Ron and Judy Wanless, He’s Heaven is out of the 2011 G1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and she has produced three winners headed by Group 3-placed filly Angel Of Heaven (Redoute’s Choice).
The dam of He's Heaven, Lights Of Heaven (NZ), pictured when racing | Image courtesy of Sportpix
He’s Heaven also derives from the same family as New Zealand Group 1 winner Dal Cielo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Eloa (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Looking Back
Friday's first selection, Custo (Deep Field), lived up to the potential he showed in a trial last month, winning the second at Scone by an impressive 3.5l, while our second pick was the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Fast Witness (Star Witness) and he finished second at Geelong, beaten 0.75l. Meanwhile, our final choice, Dreamt Ofbein King (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) was scratched on raceday morning.
