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.
Thursday at Wyong, we look at debutante filly from a surprisingly good, stakes-littered family, while at Seymour, the 3-year-old filly Wonderwall (Sebring) is from a sibling to Away Game (Snitzel), and the 4-year-old gelding Flamma (Star Witness) is a half-brother to a dual Group 3 winner.
Wyong, Race 1, 12.30pm AEST, HMA Group Mdn, $40,000, 1200m
Castlerosse, 3-year-old filly (Churchill {Ire} x Zipanese {Bellotto {USA}})
This filly is the only debutante in this field. She is a daughter of the Bellotto (USA) mare Zipanese, who was a very smart race filly. She won the Listed Proud Miss S. in South Australia and she was second in the G1 Robert Sangster S., as well as a further two stakes races.
The topicality of this family is that Zipanese is a half-sister to Cappadocia (Northern Meteor), the dam of the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Communist (Russian Revolution). The page also features the Listed SAJC Lightning S. winner Extremely Lucky (Extreme Choice), while further along it’s the family of the five-time Group 1 winner Niconero (Danzero) and his half-brother, the Widden sire Nicconi.
Churchill (Ire) | Standing at Coolmore Australia
Castlerosse is a homebred for her owners. The filly is trained by the Snowden team at Randwick and she’s had three trials, the latest two resulting in midfield finishes. Castlerosse has jockey Andrew Adkins in this debut from barrier four.
Seymour, Race 2, 2pm AEST, GD & SL O’Sullivan Builders Mdn, $27,000, 1200m
Wonderwall, 3-year-old filly (Sebring x Modern Wonder {Snitzel})
This neat filly was bred by Kia Ora Stud. She is the first foal from the Snitzel mare Modern Wonder, who won the Listed SAJC Dequetteville S. and was second in the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. Modern Wonder was also third in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S., while the mare is a full sister to the brilliant, multiple stakes winner Away Game through the second dam on this page, the stakes-placed Elusive Wonder (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Wonderwall was consigned by Kia Ora Stud to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and Paul Roach for $300,000.
Wonderwall as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The filly is trained by Maher and David Eustace at Ballarat and her owners includes Kia Ora Stud, who went back into her. She’s had just one race to date, which occurred at Donald in June last year as a 2-year-old, when she finished sixth. In this second start she has jockey Lachlan King from barrier 12.
Seymour, Race 3, 2.30pm AEST, Mangalore Park Mdn, $27,000, 1000m
Flamma, 4-year-old gelding (Star Witness x Academy Idol {Made Of Gold {USA}})
This white-socked chestnut gelding is well-related on the first line. He is a half-brother to the Epaulette filly Meryl, who won the G3 Scarborough S. at Moonee Valley and the G3 BJ McLachlan S. in Brisbane. Meryl was also twice more Group-placed. Flamma is also a half-brother to the dual Listed-placed pair of Chosen Idol (Choisir) and Miss Idyllic (Exceed And Excel).
Flamma was consigned by Riversdale in Scone to the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He sold for $200,000 to Commendable Bloodstock.
Flamma as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The gelding is trained at Seymour by David Prior, who is one of two owners in the horse, and Flamma is a late bloomer to debut. He has previously had several jump-outs over two preparations. He comes into this first race with apprentice jockey Brian Higgins and barrier 13.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday were luckless. At Kembla Grange, King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) was fourth, and at Ballarat, Snappy Tycoon (Written Tycoon) was unplaced.
