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.
Thursday at Newcastle, we look at an OTI Racing gelding who’s a full brother to Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), plus a half-sister to both Divine Prophet and Proisir. At Sale, we pay attention to a Tavistock (NZ) colt from a Group 1-winning mare.
Newcastle, Race 1, 12.35pm AEST, Hungerford Hill Mdn, $40,000, 1500m
Coppleson (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Rip Van Winkle {Ire} x Bak Da Chief {NZ} {Chief Bearhart {Can}})
Three-year-old Coppleson (NZ) is a son of the G2 Waikato Gold Cup winner Bak Da Chief (NZ), making him a full brother to the beloved folk-hero Te Akau Shark. The latter was a dual Group 1 winner on both sides of the Tasman, and multiple times placed in Group events. Bak Da Chief herself is a half-sister to the dam of the G1 Easter H. winner Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the very good, triple stakes-winning gelding Ecuador (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Coppleson was offered by Woburn Farm at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was bought by McKeever Bloodstock for $200,000.
Coppleson (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The gelding is raced in the OTI colours and trained by Chris Waller at Rosehill, and he’s had a second-placed trial this preparation. He has jockey Brenton Avdulla for this debut from barrier seven.
Newcastle, Race 2, 1.10pm AEST, Avid Project Management 3YO Mdn, $40,000, 900m
Dear Jewel, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Prophet Jewel {Encosta De Lago})
This filly is exquisitely bred. She’s a daughter of the brilliant producer Prophet Jewel and therefore a half-sister to the full brothers Divine Prophet and Proisir. Both of the latter are notable stallions these days, and a 2015 filly from this mare, Priestess (Exceed And Excel), was a $1.2 million yearling when sold to Hawkes Racing at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Sale.
Dear Jewel was not offered as a yearling, but instead retained by her breeder, Sydney businessman Tony Falcone, in whose colours she races.
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The filly is trained by the Hawkes team at Rosehill and she’s unraced. She was third in a trial on July 29, and before that she was tailed off in a maiden trial at Warwick Farm in early July. Dear Jewel has drawn barrier nine in this debut and she will Brenton Avdulla aboard.
Sale, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Growmaster Sale Mdn, $37,500, 1415m
Eddery (NZ), 3-year-old colt (Tavistock {NZ} x Chenille {NZ} {Pentire {GB}})
This unraced 3-year-old colt is just the second foal from the G1 Auckland Cup winner Chenille (NZ), who herself is a half-sister to the dual Group-winning and Group 1-placed Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel), the dam of the highly rated Group winner Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt). This is also the female family of the two-time Group 1 winner Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel).
Eddery (NZ) was consigned by Hallmark Stud to the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, where he sold to Busuttin Racing for NZ$180,000.
Eddery (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
He is trained at Cranborne by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and he’s had a fourth-placed trial to date. The colt has drawn barrier 10 and he will have jockey Daniel Moor.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday went fairly. At Randwick-Kensington, Marelle (NZ) (Savabeel) was fourth and at Doomben, Caesaris (Capitalist) was second. At Belmont, Affluential (NZ), the full brother to Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), was unplaced.
