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 afternoon at Warwick Farm and Eagle Farm will see the unveiling of three well-bred horses making their debuts. Starting at Eagle Farm, Monolink, an expensive daughter of I Am Invincible, will test her luck on debut. Attention will then turn to Warwick Farm, where a son of the leading sire Exceed And Excel, Exceed Perfection, will debut in the Race 2, followed by an expensive son of Capitalist, Capital Mac, in Race 3.
Eagle Farm, Race 1, 1.27pm AEDT (12.27pm local), Racecourse Village QTIS 2YO Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Monolink, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Harlem River {Fastnet Rock})
On Wednesday, trainer Tony Gollan will debut a 2-year-old filly by I Am Invincible at Eagle Farm. Monolink was placed in an 840-metre trial at Doomben on February 14. Ryan Maloney has been engaged to ride the filly, and the pair will jump from barrier two.
Monolink is the fifth foal from the Fastnet Rock mare, Harlem River, a winner of the Listed Tattersall’s S. and placed in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. The filly is a half-sister to Lady Harlem, a daughter of Sebring, who placed in the R. Listed Inglis Banner as a 2-year-old.
Monolink as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Furthermore, this is the family of the 2019/20 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt in Australia, Yes Yes Yes, a winner of the $15 million The Everest and the G2 Todman S., and the Time Thief (GB) In Her Time who won the G1 Black Caviar Lighting S., and the G1 The Galaxy.
When offered by Newgate Farm, the filly was a $900,000 yearling purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Warwick Farm, Race 2, 2.20pm AEDT, Arrowfield – A Tradition Of Greatness H., $55,000, 1400m
Exceed Perfection, 2-year-old colt (Exceed And Excel x Perfect Rhyme {Poet’s Voice {GB}})
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will debut this son of Exceed And Excel at Warwick Farm on Wednesday afternoon. The colt was placed in a 1030-metre trial at Rosehill Gardens on February 27 in preparation for his first race start. Tim Clark has been engaged to ride, and the pair will jump from barrier two.
Exceed Perfection is the first foal from the Poet’s Voice (GB) mare Perfect Rhyme. A winner of two races, the mare was notably placed in the G1 Australian Oaks and the G3 Adrian Knox S.
Exceed Perfection as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Furthermore, this is the family of Ugo Foscolo (NZ), a son of Zacinto (GB), who won the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the G2 Waikato RC James and Annie Sarten Memorial S.
The colt was a $170,000 yearling purchase by NXT Level Syndication Pty Ltd from the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale when offered by Kia Ora Stud.
Warwick Farm, Race 3, 2.55pm AEDT, TAB Plate, $55,000, 1100m
Capital Mac, 3-year-old colt (Capitalist x Bonnie Mac {NZ} {Thorn Park})
Trainer Gregory Hickman will debut a well-bred son of Capitalist, Capital Mac, on Wednesday at Warwick Farm. Capital Mac was unplaced in an 808-metre trial at Warwick Farm on March 2. Nash Rawiller has been engaged to ride, and the pair will jump from barrier seven.
The colt is the fifth and final foal from the late Thorn Park mare Bonnie Mac (NZ). She was a winner of the Listed Proud Miss S., incredibly all of Bonnie Mac’s progeny to race have been black-type winners.
Capital Mac as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Capital Mac is a half-brother to the G1 Coolmore Stud S., winner Exceedance, a son of Exceed And Excel, who stands at Vinery Stud. In addition, the colt is a half-brother to Exceedance’s full brother Oxley Road, a winner of the G2 Caulfield Sprint and Mac ‘N’ Cheese (Sebring) who won the Listed Oaklands Plate and Listed Clare Lindop S.
Capital Mac was a $1.05 million yearling purchase by Hickman Racing from the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections for Tuesday, both in Race 1 at Ballarat, fared poorly. Ferghana (Exceed And Excel) and Reigning King (Snitzel) were both unplaced behind the Trapeze Artist colt Tumbling.
