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.
The spotlight will be on three well-bred juveniles whose connections hope they make the dream starts to their careers on Saturday.
Flemington, Race 1, 11.50am AEST, Next Generation Sprinters Series Final, $150,000, 1200m
Stellar Olympus, 2-year-old gelding (Starspanglebanner x Hera {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
Lindsay Park trainers Ben and JD Hayes will debut a son of Starspangledbanner, Stellar Olympus, at Flemington on Saturday.
Stellar Olympus is the fourth foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Hera (NZ). She won six races, claiming the G2 Eight Carat Classic and the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic.
Hera was also fourth in the G3 James HB Carr S.
Stellar Olympus hails from the family of progressive sprinter Buenos Noches (Supido), who won the Listed Poseidon S. and was placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Stellar Olympus as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Furthermore, this is the family of Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {Ire}), the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in New Zealand. She won the G1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S., the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. and the G1 Captain Cook S.
Stellar Olympus was a $160,000 yearling purchase by McKeever Bloodstock and Daberning Racing from the draft of Gilgai Farm at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 2, 12.30pm AEST, Koonawarra Bay 2YO H., $40,000, 1300m
Tonkatsu Goddess, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Nanyo Venus {Jpn} {Rulership {Jpn}})
Warwick Farm-based trainer Matthew Smith will debut a daughter of the Champion Sire Snitzel, Tonkatus Goddess, at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Tonkatsu Goddess is the second foal from the Rulership (Jpn) mare Nanyo Venus (Jpn). She was a dual winner from 1200 to 1600 metres in Japan.
Tonkatsu Goddess as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The filly hails from the family of Neorealism (Jpn), an eight-time winner, having won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the G2 Sapporo Kinen.
The G1 George Ryder and G1 Yasuda Kinen hero Real Impact (Jpn) and dual Group 1 winner Indy Champ (Jpn) also hail from this family.
Tonkatsu Goddess was a $350,000 yearling purchase by Mystery Downs from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 2, 12.30pm AEST, Koonawarra Bay 2YO H., $40,000, 1300m
Colours Of Autumn, 2-year-old filly (The Autumn Sun x Kennocha {Lonhro})
Hawkesbury-based trainer Brad Widdup will debut a daughter of The Autumn Sun, Colours Of Autumn, at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
The filly is the third foal from the Lonhro mare, Kennocha. She was a five-time winner over 1000 metres and is a full sister to Celts, who won the G2 Birthday Card S.
Colours Of Autumn as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Celts has produced the stakes-performed siblings, La Tene (Helmet) and Gaulois (Street Cry {Ire}). La Tene claimed the G2 Sires’ Produce S. and the G2 Angus Armanasco S., While Gaulois won eight races, including the G3 Eagle Farm Mile and the Listed Civic S.
Colours Of Autumn was a $380,000 yearling purchase for Brad Widdup Racing from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Friday's selections fared well. Klum (Snitzel) won at Scone and Assemble (Zoustar) was placed at Geelong. But Waamil (Lonhro) was unplaced in the second race at Geelong.
