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.
Sunday will see three thoroughbreds make their debuts that carry signifcant international pedigrees.
Geelong, Race 1, 12.10pm AEST, Daisy’s Garden Supplies Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1218m
Prevailed, 2-year-old colt (Justify {USA} x Prevalent {USA} {Empire Maker {USA}})
Flemington-based trainers Mark and Levi Kavanagh will debut a son of the flying Justify (USA), Prevailed at Geelong on Sunday.
Prevailed is the fifth foal from the Empire Maker (USA) mare Prevalent (USA). She won over 1100 metres at Chantilly in the Prix des Jardins.
She hails from the family of Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of 10 races, including the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan an incredible three times.
Prevailed as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Furthermore, this is the family of Decorated Invader (USA) (Declaration Of War {USA}) who won the G1 Summer S. at Woodbine and the G2 Pennine Ridge S. and the G2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga.
Prevailed was a $140,000 yearling purchase by Kavanagh Racing from the draft of Twin Hills Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Geelong, Race 2, 12.45pm AEST, The Elephant & Castle Hotel Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1218m
Sunfish, 3-year-old gelding (Highland Reel {Ire} x Lady Lighting {USA} {Birdstone {USA}})
On Sunday, Warrnambool-based Symon Wilde will debut a son of the outstanding galloper Highland Reel (Ire), Sunfish, at Geelong.
Sunfish is the eighth foal from the unraced Birdstone (USA) mare Lady Lighting (USA). She is a half-sister to Stevie Wonderboy (USA), who was crowned the Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in the USA due to victories in the G1 Breeders’ Cup juvenile and the G2 Del Mar Futurity.
Lady Lighting is also a half-sister to Theyskens’ Theory (USA) (Bernardini {USA}), a winner of the G3 Prestige S. at Goodwood.
Sunfish as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sunfish’s third dam is Mystical Mood (USA) (Roberto {USA}), a quality race mare who won the G3 Schuylerville S. at Saratoga and placed in the G1 Frizette S. and G1 Matron S. both events held at Belmont.
Furthermore, this is the family of Big Blue Kitten (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}), the Champion Turf Male in the USA in 2015, winning 14 races, including the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont over 2400 metres-in track record time.
Sunfish was firstly a $40,000 yearling purchase by Wilde Racing and Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Kenmore Lodge at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He was later reoffered at the 2021 Inglis Ready2Race Sale by Hollylodge Thoroughbreds, where Wilde Racing purchased Sunfish for $140,000.
Muswellbrook, Race 1, 12.40pm AEST, Greg Cribb Memorial Red Crown 2YO H., $30,000, 900m
Sounds Of Heaven, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Villa Carlotta {Street Cry {Ire}})
Warwick Farm-based trainer Annabel Neasham will debut a daughter of the Champion Sire I Am Invincible, Sounds Of Heaven, at Muswellbrook on Sunday.
Sounds Of Heaven is the second foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Villa Carlotta. She was a winner at two, placed in the G2 Reisling S., and finished fourth in the G2 Percy Sykes S.
Sounds Of Heaven as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Villa Carlotta is a half-sister to In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who has covered herself in glory in North America on the turf tracks, with wins in the G1 First Lady S. at Keeneland, the G1 Jenny Wiley S. and the G1 Diana S. at Saratoga and placed in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Sounds Of Heaven will race in the colours of John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds.
Sounds Of Heaven was a $1.1 million yearling purchase by James Harron Bloodstock from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Influential (The Autumn Sun) fared best of our selections on Saturday when he was fourth in the Listed The Phoenix at Eagle Farm. While Perovic (Pierro) was unplaced at Flemington on debut and Dazzle Legend (Zoustar) was scratched from his engagment at Rosehill on Saturday.
