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, we put the spotlight on three well-related debutants across Australia, who connections are hopeful will follow in their famous relatives' Group-winning tracks.
Sandown-Hillside, Race 1, 11.35am AEST, L.U Simon Builders H., $150,000, 1000m
Prinzerro, 2-year-old colt (Pierro x Dongxing Princess {Exceed And Excel})
The Pakenham-based trainer Phillip Stokes will debut a colt by the Coolmore Stud-based Pierro, named Prinzerro at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday. Prinzerro has been well-fancied by the market to run a bold race on debut with Luke Nolen aboard.
The colt is the second foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Dongxing Princess. She was a dual-winner and is a half-sister to Samara Dancer (Hinchinbrook), a quality performer who won the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) as a juvenile and was placed in the G2 Danehill S. as a 3-year-old. Dongxing Princess is also a half-sister to Black Sail (NZ) (Savabeel) an admirable performer who has won eight races, among them the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup and was placed in the G2 Sandown Guineas.
Prinzerro as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Furthermore, this is the family of the fabulous La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}), who won the G1 Arrowfield Plate and the G2 Avondale Guineas, in addition to her placed performance in the G1 New Zealand Derby and several other Group 1 performances.
Prinzerro was a $160,000 yearling purchase by Bennett Racing from the draft of Yulong at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 1, 11.20am AEST, ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day H., $150,000, 1100m
Armed Forces, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Royal Missile {Smart Missile})
Chris Waller will debut a son of the Yarraman Park-based Champion Sire I Am Invincible at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The in-form Joao Moreira has been booked to ride the colt.
Armed Forces is the first foal from the Smart Missile mare Royal Missile. She was a five-time winner during her career and notably she is a half-sister to Turffontein, who was a winner of the G1 William Reid S. and the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. in addition to the G2 Queensland Guineas.
Armed Forces as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Furthermore, this is the family of Vergara (Snippetson), she was a winner of the G3 Epona S. and the Listed Mona Lisa S. She also ran a bold race when fourth in the G1 Doncaster H.
Armed Forces was a $375,000 yearling purchase by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Newcastle, Race 2, 12.50pm AEST, Bidfood Newcastle Mdn H., $40,000, 900m
Bedtime (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Time Test {GB} x A Chance To Dream {Volksraad {GB}})
The Warwick Farm-based Matthew Smith will debut a daughter of The National Stud shuttler Time Test (GB) who shuttles to Little Avondale Stud at Newcastle over 900 metres at Newcastle.
Bedtime (NZ) is the seventh foal from the Volksraad (GB) mare A Chance To Dream. She was a three-time winner including the Listed Sunline S.
Bedtime (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
A Chance To Dream is a half-sister to Dreamlife (NZ) (Danroad) who in turn is the dam of the outstanding John O’Shea-trained sprinter Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). Lost And Running is the winner of the G2 Premiere S., G3 Southern Cross S. and the rich $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle among his nine wins.
Bedtime was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Jory and Co Bloodstock from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Friday saw Tietar (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) unplaced at Geelong and Kiribati (Capitalist) unplaced at Muswellbrook. The final Friday runner Tee And Gee (Lonhro) was unplaced at Cranbourne.
