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 Sunday, we kick off the day at Werribee where a pair of 3-year-olds, Zoufire (Zoustar) and Esseffninety (I Am Invincible), resume having both had one start each as juveniles. Meanwhile, 2-year-old filly Tracy’s Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) will look to build on her fourth-place finish on debut when she takes her chance at the Sunshine Coast.
Werribee, Race 1, 1.20pm AEDT, Evergreen Turf 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1000m
Zoufire, 3-year-old gelding (Zoustar x Princess Wildfire {Sepoy})
Zoufire finished fourth on debut as a juvenile and he will be looking to make the perfect start to his 3-year-old season when he takes to the Werribee track on Sunday, where he will break from barrier seven with Daniel Moor booked to take the ride.
A $300,000 buy for his trainer Danny O’Brien at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the gelding is out of the placed Sepoy mare Princess Wildfire.
Zoufire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Princess Wildfire herself is a daughter of Group 3 scorer Leone Chiara (Lion Hunter) - the dam of dual Group 1-winning Widden Victoria-based sire Star Witness and Group 3 winner and fellow sire Nostradamus.
Further back this is the same family as Group 2-winning pair Chinchilla Rose (Lion Hunter) and Ferocity (Lion Hunter).
Werribee, Race 2, 1.55pm AEDT, In2Access Services Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
Esseffninety, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Sunday Chill {Flying Spur})
Esseffninety has not been sighted since her third-placed debut as a juvenile and she will attempt to come out firing on her first start as a 3-year-old when she tackles this 1100-metre contest at Werribee on Sunday.
The daughter of I Am Invincible is out of the winning Flying Spur mare Sunday Chill, who has produced two winners so far.
Sunday Chill is a half-sister to G1 Flight S. winner Oohood (I Am Invincible), while her other half-sister, the stakes-placed mare Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet {USA}), is the dam of dual Group 1 winner and now Coolmore Stud-based sire King’s Legacy.
Esseffninety as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Further back the filly is from the same family as the late Arrowfield Stud-based sire Not A Single Doubt.
Esseffninety was purchased by her trainer Lloyd Kennewell and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) for $460,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021. The 3-year-old will be ridden on Sunday from barrier nine with Zac Spain booked on board.
Sunshine Coast, Race 3, 2.10pm AEDT (1.10pm local), Dunlop Super Dealer Caloundra QTIS 2YO H., $75,000, 1000m
Tracy’s Spirit, 2-year-old filly (Spirit Of Boom x Tracy’s Image {Encosta De Lago})
Having finished fourth on debut at Newcastle last month, this Kris Lees-trained daughter of Spirit Of Boom will attempt to make it second time lucky when she lines up at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Raced by Australian Bloodstock, the filly is out of the dual-winning Encosta De Lago mare Tracy’s Image, who has produced two winners to date.
Tracy’s Image 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}).
Tracy's Spirit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
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).
The filly was bought by her trainer and owners for $280,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2022 and she will jump from barrier three with Andrew Mallyon booked to take the ride.
Looking Back
Snapback (Snitzel) was narrowly beaten into second at Randwick, while Moscow Night (Written Tycoon) and Dark Powers (Snitzel) finished unplaced at Newcastle Beaumont.
