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 Saturday, we kick off at Flemington as Corniche (Fastnet Rock) takes to the track for the second time in his career, while Nazorian (Exceed And Excel) and Fightertown (Snitzel) will make their debuts at the Gold Coast and Rosehill respectively.
Flemington, Race 1, 10.30am AEDT, VRC Summer Fun Sprint, $150,000, 1100m
Corniche, 2-year-old colt (Fastnet Rock x Montsegur {New Approach {Ire}})
Having finished third on debut, this James Cummings-trained colt will attempt to build on that performance when he makes a second appearance at Flemington on Saturday. Corniche will break from barrier six with Damien Oliver booked to take the ride.
By Coolmore’s stalwart stallion, Fastnet Rock, the juvenile hails from one of the most sought after and active families in the global Stud Book, being out of G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Montsegur, whose four winners are headed by dual Group 3 scorer Heresy (Street Boss {USA}).
Montsegur herself is a daughter of Chatoyant (NZ) (Flying Spur), who also produced this season’s G1 Winterbottom S. winner Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Group 3 triumphant Tessara (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Fastnet Rock | Standing at Coolmore
Chatoyant is also a half-sister to Group 1 winner Bonaria (Redoute's Choice) and Group 3-winning duo Time Out (Rory’s Jester) and Legally Bay (Snippets).
Legally Bay - who died in 2019 - proved herself one of the most influential broodmares of the last century, producing dual Group 1 winner and now Coolmore Stud-based stallion Merchant Navy as well as Group 2 winner Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock) and Setanta (Fastnet Rock).
Gold Coast, Race 2, 11.15am AEDT (12.15pm local), Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Plate, $500,000, 900m
Nazorian, 2-year-old colt (Exceed And Excel x Nomothaj {Snitzel})
Nazorian will be out to make the perfect start to his career when he takes his chance at the Gold Coast on Saturday and he will be ridden by Brodie Loy from barrier nine.
Trained by Kacy Fogden, the son of Darley’s evergreen stallion Exceed And Excel was bought by Tony Fung Investments for $550,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale and was then purchased by Julian Blaxland of Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA) for $575,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale the following year.
Nazorian as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt is the first foal out of the Listed-winning Snitzel mare Nomothaj, who was bought by Gandharvi for $1.1 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last year.
Nomothaj herself is a daughter of G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Real Stolle (Elusive Quality {USA}), while further back this is the same family as G1 VRC Derby winner Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}).
Rosehill, Race 1, 12.20pm AEDT, Ned Australian Whisky H., $150,000, 1100m
Fightertown, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Red Lodge {USA} {Midshipman {USA}})
This Coolmore-raced Snitzel colt will make his much-anticipated debut at Rosehill on Saturday and he will jump from barrier three with Ben Coen booked to take the ride.
Trained by Chris Waller, the juvenile was purchased for $1.1 million at the 2022 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of his breeder Emirates Park.
Fightertown is out of the Listed-winning Midshipman (USA) mare Red Lodge (USA), who Emirates Park bought for US$500,000 (AU$717,700) at the 2018 edition of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Fightertown as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt’s third dam is the Grade 1-winning mare Memories Of Silver (USA) (Silver Hawk {USA}), who is the dam of fellow dual Grade 1 winner Winter Memories (USA) (El Prado {USA}), the dam of Listed scorer Winter Sunset (USA) (Tapit {USA}).
Should the colt prevail in Saturday’s contest, he will become the seventh juvenile winner for Snitzel in Australasia this season and the septet are headed by Empire Of Japan, who will line up in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic later on in the afternoon at the Gold Coast.
