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.
The Lindsay Park-trained Optume (Pierro) will look to get her career of to the perfect start when she lines up in the R. Listed Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley, meanwhile, our second selection, Stanislaus (Exceed And Excel) will be hoping to live up to his high-class pedigree when he takes a shot at the Kirkham Plate at Randwick. Our final selection is Magadan (Russian Revolution) and he will line up for his second career start at Kembla Grange.
Moonee Valley, Race 1, 12.15pm AEDT, R. Listed Inglis Banner, $500,000, 1000m
Optume, 2-year-old filly (Pierro x Identic {I Am Invincible})
The Lindsay Park-trained Optume - a daughter of Coolmore Stud’s resident sire Pierro - will begin her career in the R. Listed Inglis Banner and she will break from barrier four with Mark Zahra booked to take the ride.
Purchased by Moraitis Thoroughbreds for $85,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in 2021 and she was then purchased by her trainers for $70,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale the following year.
Optume as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is the first foal out of the three-time-winning I Am Invincible mare Identic and she is the daughter of unraced Falbrav (Ire) mare Bravity, who is herself a half-sister to Listed-winning duo Agister (Mossman) and Readyor (More Than Ready {USA}).
Further back, the filly’s fourth is multiple Group 1-winning champion Triscay (Marscay) and the page also features Essaouira (Exceed And Excel), the dam of multiple Group 1-winning Champion Alizee (Sepoy) and G1 Golden Rose winner turned Darley sire, Astern.
Randwick, Race 1, 12.30pm AEDT, Kirkham Plate, $150,000, 1000m
Stanislaus, 2-year-old colt (Exceed And Excel x Calaverite {Lonhro})
The James Cummings-trained Stanislaus - a stablemate and half-brother to this season’s G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile (Astern) - will be out to make the perfect start to his career when he lines up at Randwick. The colt will jump from barrier five with Sam Clipperton in the plate.
Stanislaus is out of Listed-winning Lonhro mare Calaverite, who was sold by Godolphin to Merricks Station, Howson and Houldsworth Bloodstock and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) for $310,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale earlier this year and her three other foals to race, including Golden Mile, have all been winners.
Exceed And Excel | Standing at Darley
Calaverite herself is out of New Zealand Group 2 winner Gold Rocks (Oratorio), making her a half-sister to Group 2-winning pair Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel) and Gold Rush (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}).
Kembla Grange, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, Gray’s Excavations and Clearing CG&E Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Magadan, 3-year-old colt (Russian Revolution x Tempting Delight {Northern Meteor})
Having finished second on his first start, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Magadan will line up in alley three with Mitchell Bell booked to take the ride.
The colt was purchased by Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) and Stephen Gray Racing for $150,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2021 and he is out of Northern Meteor mare Tempting Delight, who is also the dam of winning pair Bulletproof (Dissident) and En (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Tempting Delight is herself a half-sister to Group 2 winner Champagne Harmony (Choisir), the dam of Listed winner Grace And Harmony (Sebring) and she in turn produced G1 Flight S.-runner-up Sezanne (More Than Ready {USA}).
Magadan as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Meanwhile, the colt’s page also features Group 1-winning Champions St Reims (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Champagne (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who is herself the grandam of fellow elite-level winner Charmont (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Further back this is also the same family as Imposingly (Zabeel {NZ}) and she is the dam of multiple Group 1-winning Champion mare Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), Group 2 winner Lord Arthur (Camelot {GB}) 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) (Makf {GB}).
Looking Back
Our first pick on Friday, Five Rings (NZ) (Savabeel), finished fourth at Cranbourne, while Penman (Written Tycoon), who ran in Race 5 on the same card at the Victorian card, finished 1l away in second. Remlaps Commander (Extreme Choice) was also one of our selections and he was scratched before the race.
