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 the day at Randwick with the Emirates Park-bred filly Mutafiq (I Am Invincible) who will look to shed her maiden status at the second time of asking. We then turn our attention to Caulfield, where Warchime (Merchant Navy) makes his first appearance on a racecourse, before Bel Air (Written Tycoon) tries to improve on a debut second-place finish when he tackles the VOBIS Gold Ingot.
Randwick, Race 1, 11.15am AEST, Elite Sand & Soil H., $150,000, 1200m
Mutafiq, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Final Agreement {Flying Spur})
This Team Hawkes-trained colt will look to get off the mark at the second time of asking having finished ninth on debut at Randwick-Kensington on June 29 and he will jump from barrier three with William Pike booked to take the ride.
Bred by Emirates Park, Mutafiq was retained to race by the powerhouse operation when he failed to make his $500,000 reserve at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Mutafiq as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The 2-year-old colt is out of the winning Not A Single Doubt mare Final Agreement making him a brother to G3 Gimcrack S. winner Enthaar (Written Tycoon), while he also counts two-time winner Texas Forever (Deep Field) as his half-sibling.
Final Agreement herself is a sister to G1 Robert Sangster S. winner Secret Agenda and Group 3-placed Stellar Pauline. Meanwhile, further back the colt derives from the same family as Group 1 winner Euphoria (Marauding {NZ}), the dam of Listed winner Fleet (Dehere {USA}).
Caulfield, Race 1, 12.05pm AEST, MRC Membership Renewal H., $130,000, 1200m
Warchime, 2-year-old gelding (Merchant Navy x Bellspath {New Approach {Ire}})
The Robert Hickmott-trained Warchime makes his racecourse debut over 1200 metres at Caulfield on Saturday and he will line up in barrier seven with Teo Nugent booked to take the ride.
Warchime as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The gelding was purchased by his trainer for $100,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and he is out of the unraced mare Bellspath and she is herself a daughter of Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Dane Belltar (Danewin).
Dane Belltar produced seven winners, including multiple Group 1 winner Fawkner (Reset), multiple Group 2 scorer Tanby (Galileo {Ire}).
Caulfield, Race 2, 12.40pm AEST, Lamaro’s Hotel VOBIS Gold Ingot, $175,000, 1400m
Bel Air, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Bel Selene {Bel Esprit})
After finishing second on debut at Pakenham Synthetic on July 9, Bel Air will look to go one better over 1400 metres at Caulfield.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, the colt was bred by Woodside Park Stud and Iskander Racing and Breeding and was purchased by International Thoroughbred Solutions for $320,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bel Air as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bel Air is out of the three time-winning mare Bel Selene and she is herself a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning champion Mummify (GB) (Jeune {GB}).
Meanwhile, Bel Selene also counts Byzantine (Elusive Quality {USA}) amongst her half-siblings and she is the dam of Group 3 winner Ottoman (Exceed And Excel) and Listed scorer Isaurian (Exceed And Excel).
Looking Back
Our first selection on Friday, Say No Never (No Nay Never {USA}) finished seventh, 5l off the leader at Gatton, before our second selection Amberstern (NZ) (Astern) kicked her career off in the best possible way, when coming out on top in a close finish at Tamworth. The final selection of the day, Pliskova (NZ) (Swiss Ace), was unlucky not to win, finishing 0.72l off the winner in second in the third race on the card at Tamworth.
