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.
For Saturday's selections we head to Trentham where a daughter of Cambridge Stud's first-season sire, Embellish (NZ), looks to get off the mark. We then head to Geelong where two well-bred geldings attempt to break their maidens, including a half-brother to a contender in this year's G1 Golden Slipper and a son of Merchant Navy, who will be represented by Steel City in the $5 million juvenile feature.
Trentham, Race 1, 11am AEDT (1pm local), Neteffext Payroll Premier 2YO Plate, $50,000, 1200m
Glitzy Glory (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Embellish {NZ} x Colheita {NZ} {St. Petersburg})
The powerhouse Te Akau Racing operation and trainer Mark Walker will debut Glitzy Glory (NZ), a daughter of the Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish, at Trentham on Saturday. The filly will be ridden by the champion jockey Opie Bosson, and the pair will jump from barrier seven.
Embellish (NZ) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Glitzy Glory will be the eighth individual runner for Waikato's first-season sire Embellish, a son of the eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel. The filly is the eighth foal from the St. Petersburg mare Colheita (NZ). She was placed as a 3-year-old during her career. Colheita is a three-quarter sister to Chartreuse (NZ) (St. Petersburg), and she was a Listed winner. Chartreuse is the dam of the California Dane mare Platinum Witness, who was crowned the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year in 2014/15, most notably winning the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Furthermore, this is the family of Zennista (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}), she was twice a Group 3 winner and is the dam of Zennzella (Snitzel), who won the G2 Wakeful S.
Geelong, Race 1, 12.41pm AEDT, Elephant & Castle Hotel Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1121m
Non Grata, 3-year-old gelding (Pariah x Amerindia {GB} {Dubawi {Ire}})
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace camp will debut a well-bred son of Pariah at Geelong on Saturday. The gelding showed ability in winning a recent jump-out over 900 metres at Ballarat on March 8. Mitchell Aitken has been engaged to ride and the pair will jump from barrier six.
Non Grata is the half-brother to Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), who is a contender in Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill.
Non Grata as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The gelding is the third foal from the Dubawi (Ire) mare Amerindia (GB). She was placed during her career, then sold at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale for $150,000gns (AUS$285,400). She hails from the family of the Yulong Stud shuttler Lucky Vega (Ire), who won the G1 Curragh Phoenix S., as a 2-year-old.
Furthermore, this is the family of Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). An international performer for the Godolphin operation, who has recorded victories in the G1 Saratoga Derby, the G3 Belmont Jockey Club Derby and the G3 Meydan Dubai Millennium S.
When consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds the colt was a $250,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Geelong, Race 4, 2.36pm AEDT, Type 1 Foundation 3YO Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1321m
Touch Of Navy, 3-year-old gelding (Merchant Navy x Epitomise {More Than Ready {USA}})
Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will send out their well-bred son of Merchant Navy at Geelong on Saturday. Touch Of Navy showed promise on debut when running fourth at Sandown-Lakeside over 1300 metres on February 2. The gelding returned to the jump-outs winning a 1000-metre heat at Colac on March 9. Patrick Moloney has been engaged to ride, the pair will jump from barrier 11.
Touch Of Navy is the first foal from the More Than Ready (USA) mare Epitomise, a winner of two races during her career. She is a half-sister to Personal (Fastnet Rock), who won the G1 VRC Oaks.
Touch Of Navy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Touch Of Navy’s third dam is the Jade Hunter (USA) mare, Procrastinate, a winner of the G3 Tristarc S. She was a grand producer being the dam of Laisserfaire, a daughter of Danehill (USA), who was crowned the Champion Older Female Sprinter in South Africa consecutively in the early 2000s. Furthermore, this is the family of several stakes winners including Time Thief, Foreplay, A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), Sejardan (Sebring) and Almighty Girl (Beneteau).
When consigned by Cressfield Stud, Touch Of Navy was a $170,000 yearling purchase by Mick Price Racing at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
