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 racing on Saturday, we kick off in Brisbane with a Corumbene Stud homebred 2-year-old sister to Menari. Our next runner is a well-related 2-year-old Zoustar colt, who debuts at Hawkesbury, and we come home with a juvenile Street Boss (USA) filly, who makes her first appearance at the races in the Bendigo Gold Rush.
Doomben, Race 1, 12.53pm AEDT (11.53am local), Gallopers Sports Club QTIS 2YO H., $85,000, 1200m
Alola, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Isurava {General Nediym})
The Lee Freedman-trained Alola was bred and is raced by Corumbene Stud.
The filly is a sister to the former smart sprinter Menari, who won three of his eight races during an injury-plagued career. Menari won two stakes races, including the G2 Run To The Rose, and was placed in Group 1 company.
Alola is from a Listed scorer, who is a sister to the stakes winners Ichihara and Au Chocolat.
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
This is the same family as the champion stayer Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}), who won a staggering 13 Group 1s.
Alola looked good in winning a Beaudesert on March 16 by 0.20l under Paul Hammersley. She will be handled by Mark Du Plessis.
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 1.05pm AEDT, The Mike O’Donnell Memorial 2YO Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1000m
Thunderlips, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Shapita {Foxwedge})
This colt was consigned by its breeder, Lustre Lodge, at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $450,000.
Thunderlips is the first foal of a stakes performer, who is a three-quarter sister to the stakes performer Wassergeist (Fastnet Rock).
Thunderlips as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt’s grandam, Te Akau Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park), recorded three wins, including two at two, as well as a Group 2 success. She is a three-quarter sister to the stakes winners Alberton Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) and Magic Briar (NZ) (Thorn Park) and a half-sister to the stakes performer Alberton Princess (NZ) (Golan {Ire}) and she herself is the dam of the multiple Group 1 hero, turned sire Brutal (NZ).
Thunderlips, who won a recent Rosehill trial, will be partnered by Winona Costin.
Bendigo, Race 3, 1.35pm AEDT, VOBIS Gold Rush, $250,000, 1000m
Elphinstone, 2-year-old filly (Street Boss {USA} x Inflection {Shamardal {USA}})
This filly was consigned by Sullivan Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was knocked down to McEvoy Mitchell Racing, Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) and ARJB Racing for $200,000.
Elphinstone is the fourth living foal of a three-time winner, who is a half-sister to the Listed victress Choice Words (Choisir) and she herself is the dam of the Listed winner I Am Eloquent (I Am Invincible).
Elphinstone as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Other stakes winners on the filly’s page include Cool Slewpy (USA) (Slewpy {USA}) and Spontaneous (USA) (Rahy {USA}).
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly will be ridden by Harry Coffey and will jump from gate two.
Looking Back
Friday's selections were a mixed bag with Far Too Long (So You Think {NZ}) producing a promising debut effort at Benalla. While Artistica (Trapeze Artist) was swamped late at Cranbourne to finish fourth. We will have to wait another day to see Silver Waves (Caravaggio {USA}), as she was scratched from her assigment at Benalla.
