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, the spotlight will be cast on three well-bred debutants across Australia, with two having their first starts in stake races.
Sandown-Hillside, Race 1, 12.05pm AEST, Ian Miller H., $150,000, 1300m
Gates, 2-year-old colt (Frankel {GB} x Bellwether {GB} {Three Valleys {USA}})
The Peter Moody stable will debut a son of the Juddmonte Farms-based Frankel (GB), Gates at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
The colt is raced and owned by several prominent Peter Moody stable clients, including Wylie Dalziel of Wylie Dalziel Roy Higgins Racing and Rosemont Stud.
Gates as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Gates is the fourth foal from the Three Valleys (USA) mare Bellwether (GB). She was a 50,000gns (AU$98,200) purchase from the 2018 Tattersalls December Mares Sale by Rosemont Stud; Bellwether hails from a beautiful European/Juddmonte Farms family, she is a daughter of Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert {USA}) who was a dual Group 1 winner, and in-turn has produced Mirage Dancer (GB) and Ironclad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who have both performed at Group 1 level in Australia, topped by Mirage Dancer’s victory in the G1 Metropolitan H.
Furthermore, this is the family of great blue-hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), the dam of five individual Group 1 winners and the Group 1-placed Dansili (GB), who stood at Juddmonte Farms Banstead Manor Stud and sired over 150 stakes winners.
Gates was a $950,000 yearling purchase by Dalziel Bloodstock and Moody Racing from the draft of Rosemont Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sunshine Coast, Race 4, 2.53pm AEST, Group 3 TAB Ken Russell Memorial Classic, $200,000, 1200m
Money Team, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x The Pinnacle {So You Think {NZ}})
On Saturday, Kacy Fodgen will debut an expensive son of Yarraman Park-based Champion Sire I Am Invincible at the Sunshine Coast in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic.
Money Team as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Money Team is the first foal from the So You Think (NZ) mare, The Pinnacle. She won the G3 Epona S., placed in the G3 Aspiration H. and the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet. The Pinnacle is a half-sister to Under The Eiffel (Mossman), who won the G3 Sandown S. and the Listed winner Tower Of Lonhro (Lonhro).
Money Team was a $1 million yearling purchase by TFI and Kia Ora Stud from the draft of Torryburn Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Morphettville, Race 5, 2.37pm AEST (2.07pm local), Listed Without Fear S., $107,250, 1050m
Lunasha, 2-year-old filly (Shalaa {Ire} x Lunatique {Jpn} {Deep Impact {Jpn}})
On Saturday, Phillip Stokes will debut a daughter of Shalaa (Ire) at Morphettville in the Listed Without Fear S.
Lunasha is the fifth foal from the Deep Impact (Jpn) mare Lunatique (Jpn). She was unraced, however, she is a full sister to Fierement (Jpn), who was crowned the Champion Older Male in Japan in 2020. He was a dual winner of the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto and the G1 Kikuka Sho.
Lunasha as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lunatique and Fierement are from the Green Tune (USA) mare Lune D’Or (Fr). She was crowned the Champion 3-Year-Old in Italy in 2004 and was placed in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks.
Lunasha was a $160,000 yearling purchase by Philip Stokes Racing from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
On Friday we had little luck with our selections as She's A Capitalist (Capitalist) and Kandyan (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) were scratched from Kyneton. While Fearsomely (Deep Field) was unplaced at Cranbourne.
