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 Doomben, we’ve got a debutant gelding who’s a half-brother to two stakes winners, plus another debutant at Gosford for Cambridge Stud. At Pakenham’s night meeting, we look at a Trapeze Artist colt and half-brother to the stakes winner Anjana (Sepoy).
Doomben, Race 4, 3.23pm AEDT (2.23pm local), Sky Racing Mdn, $37,000, 1110m
Whatta Whitt, 3-year-old gelding (Whittington x Love All {USA} {Mt Livermore {USA}})
Three-year-old gelding Whatta Whitt will debut in this race for his Deagon-based trainer Patrick Busuttin. He’s had two preparations to date, the first of which realised a last-place trial in July, but the latest saw him finish second in a home trial on December 29. He will have jockey Corey Bayliss from a rails draw in this first appearance.
Whatta Whitt is a homebred for his ownership group and the final foal from the American-bred mare Love All (USA). He is a half-brother to two stakes winners, the first being the G3 Spring S. winner and Listed winner Lovemelikearock (Fastnet Rock), who was also dual Group-placed. The second is Lovetorn (USA), a daughter of Giant’s Causeway (USA) and winner of the Listed Arlington Jockey Club S.
Whittington | Standing at Grandview Stud
There is a lot of pedigree in this extended family. The first dam is a half-sister to the dam of the smart American performer Outta Here (USA) (Dehere {USA}), while further along it’s the family of the European Horse of the Year Arazi (USA) and his Champion half-brother Noverre (USA), while its more contemporary addition is the G3 CS Hayes S. winner Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}).
Gosford, Race 3, 3.05pm AEDT, North Construction Mdn, $40,000, 1200m
Ludo (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Extra Celestial {Danehill Dancer {Ire}})
This unraced gelding is a homebred for Cambridge Stud from the Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare Extra Celestial, who is a half-sister to the dual Listed winner Turbo Street (Encosta De Lago). Ludo (NZ) himself is a half-brother to Scott Base (NZ), a son of Dalghar (Fr), who won the 2018 G3 Wellington Guineas and G2 Japan-NZ International Trophy, along with the R. Listed Karaka 3YO Mile.
The third dam on this page, Terrestial (Star Watch), is the dam of the G2 Hobartville S. winner Outback Prince (Desert Prince {Ire}) and his G1 Canterbury Guineas-winning half-brother, Hotel Grand, a sire son of Grand Lodge (USA).
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Ludo is trained by Chris Waller at Rosehill. He had a preparation early in 2022, in which he trialled extensively, and in this latest campaign he’s had just one trial at home on January 12. He was fifth, and in this debut he will have jockey Tommy Berry from barrier 10.
Pakenham, Race 1, 5.35pm AEDT, Patient Paws Dog Training, $40,000, 1200m
Carnival Row, 2-year-old colt (Trapeze Artist x Further {More Than Ready {USA}})
This chestnut colt has the appeal of being by first-season sire Trapeze Artist, but he’s also a half-brother to the Sepoy filly Anjana, who won the Listed Incognitus S. and was fourth to Amphitrite (Sebring) in the G1 Thousand Guineas. The second dam on this page is the dual Group 3 winner Shelbourne Lass (Brocco {USA}), who was subsequently the dam of the G3 Aurie’s Star winner Elusive Touch (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Carnival Row was bred by Bert Vieira (of Trapeze Artist fame) and consigned by Widden Stud to the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he was bought by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $260,000.
Carnival Row as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy at Ballarat and he’s had numerous jump-outs. In his latest on January 10 at Stawell, he was a winner and his form is good. He will have jockey Ethan Brown in this debut from barrier two.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections for Tuesday were a mixed bag. At Moe, Glorious Defiance (No Nay Never {USA}) was unplaced and So Greysful (Capitalist) was fourth. At Bathurst, Armageddon (Deep Field) was third.
