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.
Wednesday at Warwick Farm, we look at a million-dollar colt from the family of the brilliant producer Mica’s Pride (Bite The Bullet {USA}), along with a colt whose dam is a half-sister to Splintex. At Doomben, we look at a half-sister to the triple Derby winner Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}).
Warwick Farm, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, TAB H., $55,000, 1200m
Piercing Arrow, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Silently {Anabaa {USA}})
Two-year-old Piercing Arrow is part of the millionaire’s club, a $1 million-selling yearling at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bred by Harry Mitchell and consigned by Yarraman Park, fetching that amount when going to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott alongside Go Bloodstock.
This colt is from the Anabaa (USA) mare Silently, who was a winner of the Listed James HB Carr S. Piercing Arrow, her ninth foal, is a half-brother to the O’Reilly (NZ) Group 3 winner in South Africa, Muwaary. Silently herself is a daughter of Mica’s Pride, making her a half-sister to Criterion (NZ), Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock) and Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice).
Piercing Arrow as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Piercing Arrow is trained at Tulloch Lodge and he is unraced. He has been trialling since December, with his latest being a second on May 15 over 1050 metres at Randwick. In this debut he has jockey Tim Clark from barrier four.
Warwick Farm, Race 3, 2pm AEST, Palace Pier @ Darley H., $55,000, 1200m
Siglo De Oro, 2-year-old colt (Lope De Vega {Ire}) x Acqume {Sepoy})
This chestnut colt has a bit of pedigree. His dam is the Sepoy mare Acqume, who is a half-sister to the Western Australian sire and three-time Group winner Splintex, as well as the stakes winner Invictus Salute (Exceed And Excel). The third dam on this page is the dam of Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), the latter responsible for one of the best families in the modern Stud Book through Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock) and her daughter, Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}), and the Coolmore sire Acrobat.
Siglo De Oro was bred by Glenn Burrows at Willow Park Stud. He was consigned to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he went to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and TFI for $700,000.
Siglo De Oro as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt is unraced, but his trials have been respectable since December, running fourth and fifth. In this debut, he has jockey James McDonald for the Maher-Eustace stable, and he has drawn barrier seven.
Doomben, Race 2, 1.08pm AEST, Cascade QTIS 2YO Mdn, $40,000, 1350m
Eruptive Force (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Staphanos {Jpn} x Extra Explosive {NZ} {Ekraar {USA}})
This filly’s claim to fame comes through her half-brother, Explosive Jack, who won the G1 Australian Derby and G1 South Australian Derby, as well as the Listed Tasmanian Derby. Explosive Jack was also third in the G1 Queensland Derby and G2 Alister Clark S. This is the same family as the G1 New Zealand Derby winner Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}), so there is plenty of stoutness on this page.
Eruptive Force (NZ) was bred by Novara Park, which stands Staphanos (Jpn), and consigned by Phoenix Park to the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. She was bought by Chris Waller Racing and Yes Bloodstock for NZ$250,000.
Eruptive Force (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The filly is trained by Waller on the Gold Coast and she is unraced. She was third in a recent trial on May 19, and in this debut carries Mark Du Plessis from barrier 12.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Tuesday fared well. At Hastings, Monsoon Knight (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) was second, while at Newcastle, Futtaim (Pride Of Dubai) was third.
