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.
Godolphin isn’t renowned for having progeny by Dundeel (NZ), but they have a 2-year-old colt by the Arrowfield Stud resident debuting at Mornington on Tuesday. We also look at two runners at Beaumont Newcastle - one, an American Pharoah (USA) gelding, the other, a well-related Snitzel filly.
Mornington, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Quayclean Plate, $27,000, 1200m
Royal Standard, 2-year-old colt (Dundeel {NZ} x Darousha {Fr} {Redoute’s Choice})
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, the colt was consigned by his breeder at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Godolphin Australia paid $300,000 for him.
Royal Standard hails from a lovely Aga Khan family and is the the first foal of an unraced mare, who is a half-sister to the stakes winners Dariyan (Fr), Devamani (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Darabad (Fr) (Dansili {GB}) and Dariyza (Fr) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).
Dariyan was named the Champion Older Horse in France in 2016 and won the G1 Prix Ganay in 2016.
Royal Standard as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Royal Standard’s second dam, Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk {USA}), logged five wins during her career, including the G1 Hong Kong Vase in 2009.
The James Cummings-trained colt will jump from barrier one under Blaike McDougall.
Beaumont Newcastle, Race 4, 3.40pm AEDT, Kloster Motor Group CG&E Mdn H., $27,000, 1200m
United Front, 3-year-old gelding (American Pharoah {USA} x Park Esteem {Ire} {Singspiel {Ire}})
This gelding was bred by Cressfield and is raced by Ron and Judy Wanless. He was bought by Tasman Bloodstock for $200,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
United Front is from a stakes performer and is a half-brother to the Listed-winning siblings High Esteem and Great Esteem; that duo both by Redoute’s Choice.
United Front as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Other close relations include Central Park (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}) - the Champion 3-Year-Old Colt in Italy in 1998, as well as Velvet Moon (Shaadi {USA}) and Moon Ballad (Ire) - the Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse in the UAE in 2003.
The Kris Lees-trained gelding has failed to place in two trials this prep ahead of his debut, where he will be ridden by apprentice Dylan Gibbons.
Beaumont Newcastle, Race 5, 4.20pm AEDT, Australian Bloodstock F&M Hdn H., $27,000, 1200m
Jovita, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Bennetta {General Nediym})
This filly is a homebred for Corumbene Stud.
The Mark Newnham-trained Jovita is from a Group 2 winner, who has thrown the stakes performer Bottega (Snitzel).
The filly’s grandam, Diva’s Magic (Redoute’s Choice), was a 1400-metre winner and is a half-sister to the Listed scorer Cyberiad (Spinning World {USA}).
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Jovita has been to the trials on four occasions and won at her most recent hitout at Randwick on March 7.
Tom Sherry has been booked for the filly’s debut.
Looking Back
Aiming (Maurice {Jpn}) won on debut at Yarra Valley, and while Rimbaud (Lope De Vega {Ire}) didn’t get the chance to race at Scone on Sunday due to the meeting being rescheduled because of extreme heat, the colt did finish third on Monday.
