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.
We begin early in the afternoon on Saturday at Randwick, where a juvenile colt by first-season sire Brave Smash (Jpn) looks to improve on his debut performance at stakes level, before shortly afterwards at The Valley a well-bred Zoustar filly will attempt to emulate the juvenile achievements of her female line. Later on in the card in Melbourne we also have a 3-year-old filly who will attempt to justify a big step up in class having won her maiden by 4.5l at Country level.
Randwick, Race 1, 12.20pm AEDT, Grainshaker Australian Vodka H., $150,000, 1200m
Hachiman, 2-year-old colt (Brave Smash {Jpn} x Bellevue Girl {Exceed And Excel})
The scratching of R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic winner Sovereign Fund (Capitalist), who instead favours a trip to Queensland, leaves Randwick's opening event wide open.
From the first crop of Aquis Farm's Brave Smash, Hachiman is one of the majority of this field of juveniles who have had at least one previous start. That came in the same race Sovereign Fund won, when Hachiman was shuffled back early and was running on well at the end, eventually claiming sixth. The extra 100 metres on Saturday looks sure to help, and he will jump from barrier eight on Saturday under Brenton Avdulla.
Hachiman as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Hachiman is out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Bellevue Girl, who is a sister to G3 McNeil S. winner Sugar Babe (NZ) (Exceed And Excel). She has produced four winners from her five foals to race, including G3 Schweppervescence H. winner Bellevue Hill (Pierro).
Running in the colours of Australian Bloodstock, he was picked up by the syndicate in conjunction with his trainers, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Consigned as part of the Rothwell Park Thoroughbreds draft, he changed hands for $260,000.
The Valley, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, Summer Membership On Sale Now H., $150,000, 1000m
Extremely Wicked, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Enbihaar {Magnus})
All bar two of the six-runner field for the opening race at The Valley on Saturday will be under starter's orders for the first time in their lives, including Zoustar's daughter Extremely Wicked. Trained by Matt Laurie, she will be looking to continue a family trend as all three of her first, second and third dams were debut winners as juveniles - though she will be against stiffer competition than her preceeding relatives.
Extremely Wicked is the first foal out of Enbihaar, whose second start provided her most high-profile win when she took out the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) in 2018, though her best performance came when subsequently second to Written By in the G1 Blue Diamond S. itself. The second dam, Charm's Honour (Strada) was also a stakes winner.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
Bred by Shadwell Stud, Extremely Wicked was sold as part of their dispersal at the 2021 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, where she was knocked down to Bahen Bloodstock for $550,000.
On Saturday she will jump from barrier three with Ben Melham aboard and faces debut winner Croation Belle (Brazen Beau) amongst a strong field.
The Valley, Race 8, 5pm AEDT, VOBIS Gold Carat, $175,000, 1200m
Miss Magnifico, 3-year-old filly (Magnus x Mizzna {NZ} {Montjeu {Ire}})
A race purely for VOBIS Gold qualified horses, 13 3-year-olds will go to post for the penultimate event at The Valley on Saturday. Amongst them is the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Miss Magnifico, a daughter of Magnus.
A 4.5l winner on debut at Bairnsdale earlier this month, she will be looking to double her tally as she takes a big step up in class from Country to Metropolitan level.
Bred by Robert Crabtree and running in the red and white silks of his Dorrington Farm, Miss Magnifico is only partly retained by her breeder, as she was sent through the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale where she realised $320,000 to the bid of Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) and her trainers.
Miss Magnifico as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She is out of the unraced Montjeu (Ire) mare Mizzna (NZ), a half-sister to the stakes-placed Dylan (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), and one of her 10 named foals is the G3 Desert Gold S. winner Moozoon (NZ) (Perfectly Ready), amongst six further winners.
Carrying 55kg, Miss Magnifico will have Craig Williams on board for her second start, and the pair will jump from barrier 12.
Looking Back
Thursday's first two selections from Cranbourne yielded little luck, as the well-credentialled Siteki (Flying Artie) managed just fifth of six before Kauai (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) was last of 12. The final selection, Northern Barrage (Churchill {Ire}) fared much better, getting going late to snatch second place on debut.
