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 Canterbury Park, we look at the million-dollar colt Caballus (I Am Invincible) for a Coolmore-headed syndicate. At Sandown-Lakeside, we look to Piankhi (Lonhro), who hails from the same family as the recent Group 1-placed Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}).
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, Robrick Lodge H., $55,000, 1250m
Caballus, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Calming Influence {Commands})
This unraced colt was a million-dollar yearling last year, consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds and sold as Lot 91 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He was bought by Tom Magnier.
He is the third foal from the Commands mare Calming Influence, whose good results included placings in the G3 Dark Jewel Classic and G3 Darley Crown. The second dam on this page is the stakes-winning Calming (Zeditave), while also prominent in this family is Germany’s Champion older male sprinter, the Australian-bred War Artist (Orpen {USA}).
Caballus as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Caballus is trained at Rosehill by Chris Waller. He was second in a recent trial on June 30, improving on two previous barrier trials. This will be the colt’s first race, and he has drawn barrier six with jockey Brett Prebble.
Sandown-Lakeside, Race 1, 12.25pm AEST, Become An MRC Member H., $55,000, 1300m
Piankhi, 2-year-old colt (Lonhro x Concubine {Redoute’s Choice})
This colt has a lot going on in his pedigree. His dam, Concubine, is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Knight Exemplar and Luqyaa (Exceed And Excel), the latter the dam of the Newgate colt Tannhauser, who was third to King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 JJ Atkins S. The second dam on this page is Charm View (Royal Academy {USA}), herself a half-sister to the Dehere (USA) gelding Grandiser, who was stakes-placed in America.
Piankhi was consigned by Marquee Stud to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Lindsay Park for $700,000.
Piankhi as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Piankhi was scratched from his initial debut at Moe last week and he has drawn more favourably in this race. He is raced by Marquee Stud and trained by Ben and JD Hayes at Lindsay Park. He was second in a Tatura trial on June 19 and, in this debut, he has drawn barrier three (last week it was barrier 13) with jockey Jye McNeil.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Tuesday went fairly. At Ballarat in the second race, Rouge Moulin (I Am Invincible) was a scratching and Whyemca (Merchant Navy) was fourth. In the third race, Honor Galore (Spirit Of Boom) was a strong winner.
