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.
We kick off our selections for Looking Ahead with Bonheur (I Am Invincible), a beautifully bred filly from one of the best families in the Stud Book. We then head to Warwick Farm where an equally well-bred filly, Beautiful Heart (Snitzel), looks to get her head in front for the first time, while our final selection, Cherry’s A Star (Zoustar) will attempt to make the perfect start at Belmont.
Sandown Lakeside, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Ladbroke It! Plate, $55,000, 1200m
Bonheur, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Bonaria {Redoute’s Choice})
This beautifully bred filly is out of Redoute’s Choice mare Bonaria, whose eight victories were headed by a win in the G1 Myer Classic and three wins at Group 3 level. Bonaria herself is out of dual-winning Last Tycoon (Ire) mare Decidity, meaning she is a half-sister to Group 3-winning pair Time Out (Rory’s Jester) and Legally Bay (Snippets).
Legally Bay herself - who died in 2019 - proved herself one of the very best broodmares, producing dual Group 1 winner and now Coolmore Stud-based stallion Merchant Navy as well as Group 2 winner Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock) and Setanta (Fastnet Rock).
Bonheur as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bonaria is also a three-quarter sister to Maroon Bay (Exceed And Excel) and Bayrock (Fastnet Rock), who produced the dam of Listed winners Ebhaar (I Am Invincible) and Hindaam (NZ) (Savabeel) respectively. Meanwhile, Chatoyant (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu {NZ}), another of her three-quarter sisters produced Group 2 winner Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}), Group 3 triumphants Tessara (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Montsegur (New Approach {Ire}), who in turn is the dam of G3 PJ Bell S. winner Heresy (Street Boss {USA}).
The filly is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, who picked her up at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $975,000 in 2021, and she will be ridden by Blake Shinn from barrier three.
Warwick Farm, Race 1, 1.25pm AEST, Bowermans H., $55,000, 1400m
Beautiful Heart, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Harlech {GB} {Pivotal {GB}})
This filly is a Snitzel half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}), who was also smart enough to win the G2 Sweet Embrace S. and G2 Phar Lap S., and run second in the G1 Flight S., G2 Tea Rose S. and G2 Furious S. She is out of the Pivotal (GB) mare Harlech (GB), herself a half-sister to the English Group 3 winner Maamora (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Yulong presented this filly as part of its draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where she was passed in with a reserve of $650,000. She was retained by Yulong to race.
Beautiful Heart as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Chris Waller-trained filly finished second at Canterbury on debut, before running third at the same track on her second start. On Wednesday, she will jump from barrier 11 with James McDonald booked to take the ride.
Belmont, Race 1, 3.49pm AEST (1.49pm local), Free Entry To Belmont Park H., $32,500, 1300m
Cherry’s A Star, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x She’s Cherryripe {More Than Ready {USA}})
This Neville Parnham-trained filly will attempt to get off the mark at the third attempt when she lines up at Belmont on Wednesday and she will break from barrier five with Steven Parnham booked to take the ride.
Purchased by her trainer for $350,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2021, Cherry’s A Star is out of the juvenile-winning mare She’s Cherryripe and she has produced four winners headed by stakes-placed pair Muswellbrook (Denman) and Shokora (Nicconi).
Cherry's A Star as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She’s Cherryripe is out of Listed winner Shovoff (Danehill {USA}) and she is herself out of Group 2 winner Startling Lass (Luskin Star), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Shovhog.
Further back this is the same family as Group 3-winning trio Spurtonic (Flying Spur), Carnegie House (Carnegie {GB}) and Leveller (Redoute’s Choice) - the dam of Group 2 winner Frolic (Husson {Arg}).
Looking Back
Our first selection, Extessive (Exceed And Excel), finished fifth at Newcastle, while Running By (Impending) made the perfect start to her career at Ballarat-Synthetic and Rideau (I Am Invincible) finished fifth on his first start at Newcastle.
