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 travel far and wide on Thursday, with runners in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Our first horse to look at is a Dundeel (NZ) 3-year-old at Muswellbrook. We then head to Sale, where a beautifully bred Deep Impact (Jpn) colt makes his debut. And we come home with a nice Toronado (Ire) filly at Northam.
Muswellbrook, Race 1, 1.20pm AEST, Two Rivers Wines 3YO Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1280m
Bourne, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel {NZ} x Kona Breeze {Sebring})
Bourne was bred by prominent owner-breeder Peter Horwitz, who races the gelding in partnership with the horse’s trainer, Kris Lees.
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
His dam won over 1300 metres and was placed in Listed grade. His second dam, Whiffle (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}) was a winner at two in Great Britain. Bourne is related to Group 1 winner Mission Critical (Fantastic Light {USA}) and Group 2 winner Brilliant Light (Fantastic Light {USA}).
Apprentice Dylan Gibbons will ride Bourne, who has had three trials ahead of his debut.
Sale, Race 2, 2pm AEST, Growmaster Sale 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1427m
Muramasa, 3-year-old colt (Deep Impact {Jpn} x Omei Sword {High Chaparral {Ire}})
Arrowfield Stud bred this colt, which they sold at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Busuttin Racing went to $500,000 to bring him home.
This is the first foal of Omei Sword, who won a Group 2 and placed in Group 1 grade, before selling for $1.7 million at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Her dam is G1 Thousand Guineas heroine Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock), who has also thrown stakes winner Lipizzaner (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}).
Muramasa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The ownership group of this colt includes Ozzie Kheir and John O’Neill.
Muramasa is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and will be ridden by Daniel Moor.
Northam, Race 3, 4.04pm AEST, Own The Dream 2023 Mdn, $22,500, 1000m
Laced Up Heels, 3-year-old filly (Toronado {Ire} x A City Girl {Exceed And Excel})
Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $100,000 for this filly at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Supreme Thoroughbreds.
Laced Up Heels as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This filly’s dam was a four-time winner and she is a daughter of Listed winner Lady Knockout (Serheed {USA}), who has thrown Listed victress Missy Cummings (Magnus). Laced Up Heels’ third dam is Group 2 winner Prime Again (Marooned {GB}), who in addition to Lady Knockout, has produced Listed winner Young Lionel (Blackfriars).
The Luke Fernie-trained filly, who ran second in a 1000-metre Belmont trial on August 5, has the services of Chris Parnham.
Looking Back
Beautiful Heart (Snitzel) was unplaced in the opener at Warwick Farm, while Cherry’s A Star (Zoustar) also missed the top three at Belmont. Bonheur (I Am Invincible) was scratched from Sandown-Lakeside.
