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 our afternoon at Randwick as Portorosa (Not A Single Doubt) attempts to get off the mark at the first attempt in the Listed Lonhro Plate, while at Sandown-Hillside, Extremely Wicked (Zoustar) will have her second start in the G3 Chairman’s S.
Randwick, Race 1, 12.20pm AEDT, Listed Lonhro Plate, $160,000, 1000m
Portorosa, 2-year-old filly (Not A Single Doubt x Laguna Azzurra {Jpn} {Heart’s Cry {Jpn}})
This Annabel Neasham-trained filly makes her highly anticipated debut at Randwick on Saturday and she will break from barrier two with Regan Bayliss booked in the plate.
From the last crop of Arrowfield Stud’s late sire Not A Single Doubt, Portorosa was purchased by her trainer, Brian McGuire and TFI for $650,000 at the 2022 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft.
Portorosa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The filly is out of the Listed-placed Japanese-bred mare Laguna Azzurra (Jpn), a daughter of Heart’s Cry (Jpn), and she has already produced dual winner Takshaka (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).
Laguna Azzurra herself is out of the stakes winner Silky Lagoon (Jpn) (Brian’s Time {USA}), making her a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Seewind (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Sandown-Hillside, Race 2, 1.10pm AEDT, G3 Chairman's S., $200,000, 1000m
Extremely Wicked, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Enbihaar {Magnus})
Having finished second on debut Extremely Wicked will attempt to go one better on her second career start when she lines up at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
The Matt Laurie-trained daughter of Zoustar is out of G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) winner Enbihaar, who was bought by Justin Bahen of Bahen Bloodstock for $825,000 during the Shadwell Dispersal at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2021.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
A daughter of Listed winner Charm Honour (Strada), Enbihaar's Too Darn Hot (GB) filly was purchased by McKeever Bloodstock, Watership Down, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for $1 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last month.
Extremely Wicked herself was bought by Bahen for $550,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in 2021 and she will jump from barrier two with Damian Lane set to take the ride.
Looking Back
Our two selections at Canberra, Free Choice (Spill The Beans) and Gun (Extreme Choice) both finished unplaced on Friday, while August Bloom (More Than Ready {USA}) finished fourth at Randwick-Kensington.
