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.
Our first selection on Friday is Exogroove (Exceed And Excel), who will have his second career start at Bathurst, meanwhile, at Moe, Penman (Written Tycoon) will attempt to get off the mark and we finish the day at Moonee Valley where White Russian (Fastnet Rock) takes her chance over 1200 metres.
Bathurst, Race 1, 1.14pm AEDT, Central West Electrical Mdn H., $27,000, 1400m
Exogroove, 3-year-old gelding (Exceed And Excel x De Groove {Dehere {USA}})
Having finished seventh on his first start at Newcastle, this Brad Widdup-trained gelding will attempt to break the ice for the first time at Bathurst on Friday.
The son of Exceed And Excel is out of the unraced Dehere (USA) mare De Groove and she is the dam of four winners, including Exogroove’s brother, Big Party, who has landed five times, headed by a victory in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy in Hong Kong.
Exogroove as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
De Groove also produced Group 3-placed duo Top Me Up (Exceed And Excel) and General Groove (General Nediym). Further afield this is the same family as Group 3 winner Taikun (Anabaa {USA}) and Listed winner Super Groove (Dehere {USA}).
Bred by GSA Bloodstock, the gelding was purchased by Zhongli Thoroughbreds for $210,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021 and on Friday he will break from barrier four with Grant Buckley booked to take the ride.
Moe, Race 5, 3.30pm AEDT, Nextra Moe Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1117m
Penman, 3-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Madam Tracy {Encosta De Lago})
Last seen running second on debut, Penman will attempt to go one better at Moe on Friday and he will be ridden by Dean Holland from barrier two.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, the 3-year-old colt is out of winning Encosta De Lago mare Madam Tracy, who has produced one other winner; Tracy May (Redoute’s Choice).
Penman as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Madam Tracy herself is a daughter of South African Champion Tracy’s Element (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and she is also the dam of fellow Champion mare Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), Listed winner, turned sire Red Element and Group 1-placed mare Kylikwong (Red Ransom {USA}).
Kylikwong herself is the dam of Listed winner Cantonese (Redoute’s Choice) and Lake Superior (Encosta De Lago), the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).
Bred by Hutchins Thoroughbreds, the colt was bought by his trainers and Julian Blaxland of Blue Sky Bloodstock for $340,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Moonee Valley, Race 3, 7.15pm AEDT, Mittys Racing Colours Plate, $60,000, 1200m
White Russian, 3-year-old filly (Fastnet Rock x Dreams And Wishes {Galileo {Ire}})
Not seen since running eighth on debut as a 2-year-old at Sandown-Lakeside, White Russian will make her seasonal return at Moonee Valley for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Bred by Strawberry Hill, the daughter of Fastnet Rock was purchased by her trainers for $800,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021 and she is out of dual-winning Galileo (Ire) mare Dreams And Wishes, who has produced two winners to date.
White Russian as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dreams And Wishes herself is out of Group 3-winning Jade Hunter (USA) mare Procrastinate and she has proved herself a top-class broodmare, producing 12 winners, headed by South African multiple Group 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}), the Listed-winning sires Foreplay and Time Thief, as well as Group 3 winner A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice).
Meanwhile, she is also the dam of Dreams And Wishes’ sister Personify and she in turn produced G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock).
The filly will break from barrier 10 with Ethan Brown booked to take the ride.
Looking Back
Midori Burly (Smart Missile) finished seventh at Hawkesbury, while Stand Guard (Safeguard) came home in fourth at the same track and the day was completed by Trust Bill (Trust In A Gust), who finished fifth at Mornington.
