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 see the debut of three beautifully bred fillies across Australia.
Flemington, Race 1, 11.55am AEST, Parade Lounge Sprint, $150,000, 1100m
Isthmus, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Shoals {Fastnet Rock})
Mornington-based trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman will debut a beautifully bred daughter of Yarraman Park’s Champion Sire I Am Invincible named Isthmus at Flemington on Saturday. The filly was bred and retained by Arrowfield Pastoral and GSA Bloodstock and retained to race by the former and co-owned by Pinecliff Racing.
I Am Invincible, sire of Isthmus | Standing at Yarraman Park
Isthmus is the first foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Shoals. She was an outstanding race mare winning seven races, including three Group 1 victories starting in the G1 Myer Classic over a mile, followed by the G1 Surround S. over 1400 metres and the G1 Robert Sangster S. over 1200 metres. Shoals also has three other black-type victories to her name.
The mare hails from the Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice's family, who was also a brilliant racehorse.
Furthermore, this is the family of Group 1-producing stallions and Group-winning racehorses Manhattan Rain and Rubick.
Kembla Grange, Race 3, 1.10pm AEST, Crooked River Fillies and Mare Mdn H. $40,000, 1200m
Worth Avenue, 2-year-old filly (Trapeze Artist x Mezulla (NZ) {Shamardal {USA}})
Randwick-based trainers Peter and Paul Snowden will debut a daughter of the Widden Stud-based Trapeze Artist named Worth Avenue at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Worth Avenue is the third foal from the Shamardal (USA) mare Mezulla (NZ). She was a six-time winner and has produced the Listed winner and dual Group 3-placed Ranch Hand (Fastnet Rock).
Worth Avenue as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This is the family of several notable performers, such as Away Game (Snitzel), Inference, Illation (So You Think {NZ}), Dragon Leap (Pierro) and the recently retired Widden Stud-based Jacquinot.
Worth Avenue was a $500,000 yearling purchase by de Burgh Equine, William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and Glen Hill Farm from the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 2, 12.35pm AEST, Seven Mile Beach Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1400m
Irene’s Best, 3-year-old filly (Pierro x Diamond Drille {Al Maher})
Randwick-based trainer Ron Quinton will debut a daughter of the Coolmore Stud-based Pierro at Kembla Grange on Saturday named Irene’s Best.
She is the third from the Al Maher mare Diamond Drille. She won five races, including the G1 Queen of the Turf S. and G3 Aspiration Qlty H.
Irene's Best as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This is the family of Mamzelle Pedrille (Zoffany {USA}), who won the G2 Theo Marks S. and the G3 Vo Rogue S. among her 11 victories and O’Lonhro, who won the G2 Chelmsford S.
Furthermore, the page also contains the Yarraman Park-based Champion Sire I Am Invincible, who won the G3 DC McKay S. and the Listed Sir John Monash S. in addition to his placing in the G1 Goodwood H.
Irene’s Best was a $240,000 yearling purchase by Gall Bloodstock from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Friday's selections were a mixed bunch. Ponder The Stars (So You Think {NZ}) and Pinotage (Pierro) were both unplaced at Albury and Geelong. Lulumon went close in the Inglis 2YO Challenge to finish third.
