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.
Wednesday at Wyong, we’ve got a gelding whose dam is a half-sister to a Tasmanian Oaks winner, while in the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, we look at a Maher-Eustace colt who's a half-brother to the Group 3-winning Bellevue Hill (Pierro). At Sandown, we pay attention to a Lonhro son of the Group 2 winner Fire Up Fifi (Bradbury’s Luck).
Wyong, Race 3, 2.55pm AEDT, Gold Coast Yearling Sale 10-16 Jan Mdn, $40,000, 1350m
Our Kinsmen, 3-year-old gelding (Akeed Mofeed {GB} x Nearly Did {Murtajill}})
This grey gelding is from the unraced Murtajill mare Nearly Did, whose claim to fame is that she is a half-sister to the Listed Tasmanian Oaks winner Rock Robster (Fastnet Rock). The second dam on this page is the well-related Chinese Whispers (NZ) (Woodman {USA}), who was a half-sister to the South African stakes winner Sunrise Silence (Squill {USA}) and that very good producer Discretion (Canny Lad).
Our Kinsmen was a Magic Millions Gold Coast weanling in 2020 for Kambula Stud before being offered by Kenmore Lodge as a yearling at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was bought for $60,000 by Pride Racing.
Our Kinsmen as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The gelding is trained by Joe Pride at Warwick Farm and, though only one race start down in which he was unplaced last week, he’s had extensive trials since September. In this second start he will have apprentice rider Tyler Schiller from barrier two.
Wyong, Race 6, 4.40pm AEDT, R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, $200,000, 1100m
Hachiman, 2-year-old colt (Brave Smash {Jpn} x Bellevue Girl {Exceed And Excel})
This unraced colt lines up for Australian Bloodstock, who purchased him in partnership with Ciaron Maher at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He appeared in the draft of Rothwell Thoroughbreds and cost $260,000.
Hachiman is from the Exceed And Excel mare Bellevue Girl, making him a half-brother to the Group 3 winner Bellevue Hill. The latter was also sharp enough to be second to Yes Yes Yes in the G2 Todman S., while the first dam on this page is a full sister to Sugar Babe, herself a Group 3 winner and multiple times Group-placed.
Hachiman as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Hachiman is trained by Maher and David Eustace at Warwick Farm. He was unplaced in a trial debut late in November but has since improved that with a second to Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) in a Rosehill heat last week. The form is good because Platinum Jubilee was a debut winner of the G3 Gimcrack S., and Hachiman will have jockey Jason Collett in this race from barrier eight.
Sandown, Race 1, 3.40pm AEDT, Ladbroke It! Plate, $55,000, 1400m
Lonfire, 3-year-old colt (Lonhro x Fire Up Fifi {Bradbury’s Luck})
Three-year-old Lonfire is the fourth foal from the prolific stakes mare Fire Up Fifi, whose 12-win tally during her very good career included the G2 Blazer S. and three Listed races. She was also twice Group 1-placed. This is a sharp American family through the third dam Nasty Letters (USA) (Nasty And Bold {USA}), who was a stakes winner and a prolific stakes producer herself.
Lonfire was consigned by Widden Stud to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Danny O’Brien Racing for $250,000.
Lonfire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He is trained by O’Brien at Flemington and has had extensive jump-outs, the latest of which was late last month. He comes into this debut with jockey Blake Shinn from barrier four.
Looking Back
Our Tuesday selections for Looking Ahead went only fairly at Mornington. Miss Tarzy (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) was a winner, Pacific Girl (Fastnet Rock) was unplaced and Spirited Writings (Written Tycoon) was scratched.
