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 Wanganui in New Zealand with the country’s first 2-year-old contest and Rhetorical (NZ) (Snitzel) will be out to get her career off to the perfect start. Meanwhile, our final two selections run at Hawkesbury, as both King’s Star (Zoustar) and Marquess (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) look to get off the mark.
Wanganui, Race 1, 10.20am AEST (12.20pm local), Dave Hoskin Carriers 2YO Mdn, NZ$15,000, 800m
Rhetorical (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Xpression {NZ} {Showcasing {GB}})
The Mark Walker-trained Rhetorical will be attempting to get her career off to the best possible start when she lines up in Race 1 at Wanganui. Owned by Te Akau, the 2-year-old will jump from barrier eight with Craig Grylls booked to take the ride.
Purchased by David Ellis for NZ$270,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka earlier this year, the daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel is out of Group 2 winner Xpression (NZ) and she is herself a three-quarter sister to R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO winner of 2015, Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
Rhetorical (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Further back the filly derives from the same family as stakes scorer Midnight Madam (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) and she in turn is the dam of Group 1 winner Perlin (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}) and Listed winner Almodovar (NZ) (Pins).
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 12.35pm AEST, Lander Toyota 3YO Mdn H., $40,000, 1000m
King’s Star, 3-year-old gelding (Zoustar x Demanding Queen {Commands})
King’s Star makes his career debut at Hawkesbury on Saturday and the John O’Shea prepared gelding lines up in barrier five with Keagan Latham booked to take the ride.
The gelding was bought by International Thoroughbred Solutions for $500,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2021 and he is out of Commands mare Demanding Queen, who is herself a half-sister to stakes-placed Sunnah (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) - the grandam of G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Higher Ground (So You Think {NZ}).
King's Star as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Meanwhile, Demanding Queen also counts Imposingly (Zabeel {NZ}) among one of her other half-siblings and she is the dam of multiple Group 1-winning Champion mare Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), Group 2 winner Lord Arthur and Group 3-winning trio Imposing Lass (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), Full Of Spirit (Flying Spur) and Lady Cumquat (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), as well as Listed scorer The Frontman (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
Hawkesbury, Race 3, 1.45pm AEST, Blacktown Workers Club Group CG&E Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1400m
Marquess (NZ), 4-year-old gelding (Tavistock {NZ} x Purple {Commands})
Having finished fourth on his fourth career start last time out, the James Cummings-trained gelding Marquess looks to get off the mark at the fifth attempt when he lines up in barrier six with Jean Van Overmeire booked to take the ride.
Bred and raced by Godolphin, the son of the late Cambridge Stud-based sire Tavistock (NZ) is out of the Commands mare Purple, who landed the G1 Storm Queen S. and G1 Queensland Oaks.
Tavistock (NZ)
Purple has produced five winners so far and the quintet are headed by Listed-placed duo Toga Picta (Lonhro) and Alcyone (Teofilo {Ire}).
Looking Back
Our first selection on Friday, Cavalla Bella (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), finished last of 10 runners at Wyong, while our second pick, Meghan (All Too Hard) was scratched before her race at Canberra. Meanwhile, our final selection, Sioux Me (Russian Revolution), was also scratched prior to his run at Mornington.
