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 will put the spotlight on two well-bred youngsters at Kembla Grange and Sandown-Lakeside. One will be on debut, while the other is looking to break through at start number two after a promising maiden effort.
Kembla Grange, Race 3, 1.40pm AEST, Albion Park RSL Sub-branch Provincial Mdn H., $45,000, 1300m
Starice, 3-year-old filly (Maurice {Jpn} x Stareel {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}})
Wyong based-trained Damien Lane will debut a daughter of the Arrowfield shuttler Maurice (Jpn), Starice at Kembla Grange on Saturday afternoon.
Starice is the 13th foal from the Zabeel (NZ) mare Stareel (NZ). She was unraced but more than made up for it, by being crowned the New Zealand Broodmare of the Year in 2013/14.
The filly Starice has strong ties to Arrowfield, being a half-sister to the resident sire and Champion racehorse Dundeel (NZ). A winner of six races at Group 1 level, including the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.
Starice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Furthermore, Starice’s second dam Staring (NZ) (Fiesta Star) was crowned the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in New Zealand in 1991/92 and retired a winner of the G1 Auckland Classic and G1 New Zealand Oaks.
The filly was a $175,000 yearling purchase by Greenhaven Park Stud and Lustre Lodge from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sandown-Lakeside, Race 7, 4.10pm AEST, The Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Showdown, $1,000,000, 1200m
Arizona Activist, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Phoenix Claws {Foxwedge})
The Ben and JD Hayes trained-colt Arizona Activist will look to go one better in the 2-year-old feature at Sandown-Lakeside, The $1 million Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Showdown on Saturday.
The son of Written Tycoon was placed on debut at Mornington in a 1200-metre maiden and Ben and JD Hayes have engaged Jye McNeil to ride Arizona Activist.
Arizona Activist as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is the second foal from the Foxwedge mare Phoenix Claws. She was a dual winner during her career and as a broodmare has already produced a winner in the full brother to Arizona Activist, Full Blown (Written Tycoon).
Furthermore, this is the family of the G1 VRC Derby winner Amalfi (NZ) and the recently Group 1-placed More Secrets (More Than Ready {USA}).
Arizona Activist was a $160,000 yearling purchase by Lindsay Park Bloodstock from the draft of Yulong Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Friday’s selections did not have much luck with the well-bred gelding The Cross (I Am Invincible) unplaced on debut at Seymour, while Sparkle Motion (Pierro) was also unplaced at the Sunshine Coast on debut. Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) performed the best with a pleasing second on debut to her promising stablemate Legacies (Justify {USA}).
