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.
Saturday at Flemington and Ascot will see the debut of two promising and well-bred thoroughbreds. A daughter of the Champion Sire Written Tycoon, followed by a son of a local leading sire Playing God who will debut for the Parnham family.
Flemington, Race 2, 1pm AEDT, TBV Thoroughbreds Breeders' S., $200,000, 1200m
Poppin’ Champagne, 2-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x La Paris {Falvelon})
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Poppin’ Champagne will debut at Flemington on Saturday in the G2 TBV Thoroughbreds Breeders' S. The filly returned this preparation with two jump-outs, the most recent saw her finishing second in an 800-metre heat at Cranbourne on March 20. Ben Melham has been engaged to ride the filly in the debut and they have drawn barrier 11.
Poppin' Champagne as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is the eighth foal from the Falvelon mare La Paris. She was unraced. Poppin’ Champagne is a full sister to the Group 3 winner Hightail and the Warrnambool VOBIS Gold Strike victress Je Suis Tycoon. Furthermore, this is the extended family of Dashing Eagle (Danehill {USA}), most notably a winner of the G1 Flight S., and the G1 Thousand Guineas. More recently, Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) a Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter and his half-sister Zapateo (Brazen Beau) a multiple Group 3 winner for Team Godolphin.
Poppin’ Champagne was a $360,000 yearling purchase by MG Price Racing and Breeding Pty Ltd from the draft of Morningside at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Ascot, Race 1, 3.26pm AEDT (12.26pm Local), Magic Millions Racing Women Plate, $80,000, 1200m
Investmentstrategy, 2-year-old colt (Playing Gold x World Class {Manhattan Rain})
Trainer Neville Parnham will debut a son of his former trainee Playing God. Investmentstrategy has been engaged to run in the opening event at Ascot on Saturday afternoon. Brad Parnham has been booked to ride the colt and the pair have drawn barrier eight.
Investmentstrategy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Investmentstrategy is the third foal from the Manhattan Rain mare World Class. She was placed as a two and 3-year-old during her career. The colt hails from a family that includes Miss Danehill (Danehill {USA}), who won the G1 Queensland Oaks and Pentastic (Pentire {GB}), a multiple Group 2 winner, who was placed an incredible nine times in Group 1 company.
Investmentstrategy was a $120,000 yearling purchase by Parnham Racing Stables from Misty Valley Thoroughbreds when offered at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
The 3-year-old filly Caesar Cake (Scissor Kick) started the day at Geelong in the fourth event and was well-found by the market, unfortunately she didn't run to expectations and finished fifth for her debut effort. While the 2-year-old filly Pharma Boom (Spirit Of Boom) was unplaced at the Sunshine Coast. Finally, we will have to wait another day to see Waimarie (Snitzel) go around, as she was scratched from her engagment at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
