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.
Thursday at Gosford, we look at a colt whose dam hails from Circles Of Gold (Marscay), while at Bendigo, we consider a Trapeze Artist colt from the well-related Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}). At Grafton, we have a Maurice (Jpn) gelding whose sibling is the Group 2 winner Frolic (Husson {Arg}).
Gosford, Race 6, 3.10pm AEST, Oak Haven Brewery CG&E Mdn, $40,000, 1200m
O’Explosive, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Comaneci {High Chaparral {Ire}})
This colt was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds from the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Comaneci, who has quite the pedigree. Comaneci is a daughter of Circles Of Gold, making her a half-sister to Elvstroem, Haradasun and Hveger (Danehill {USA}), the latter the dam of Highland Reel (Ire), Cape Of Good Hope (Ire) and Idaho (Ire). This is an outstanding female family and this colt himself is a half-brother to California Salto (Fastnet Rock), who was a 2-year-old Sydney winner.
O’Explosive was consigned by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He was bought for $200,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA).
O'Explosive as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is trained by Baker at Warwick Farm and he’s had extensive trials. He has finished midfield in each of them, and heads into this debut with jockey Mitchell Bell from barrier three.
Bendigo, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Bendigo Magazine 2YO Mdn, $37,500, 1100m
Theodor, 2-year-old colt (Trapeze Artist x Fuddle Dee Duddle {Red Ransom {USA}})
This unraced colt is well-related. His dam is the Group 3-winning Fuddle Dee Duddle, who was also multiple times Group-placed. Fuddle Dee Duddle is a half-sister to the Group 2-winning, Group 1-placed Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}), as well as Bella Orfana (Star Witness), the dam of Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai). Theodor, himself, is a half-brother to Brereton (Zoustar), who won the G3 Maribyrnong Plate.
Theodor was consigned by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was bought for $210,000 by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA).
Theodor as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is trained at Ballarat by Tony and Calvin McEvoy and he’s been promising in jump-outs. He was second in the latest on July 3 over 900 metres. In this debut he will have jockey Harry Coffey from barrier seven.
Grafton, Race 3, 1.35pm AEST, The Big Mdn Showcase H., $45,000, 1175m
Belvedere Boys, 3-year-old gelding (Maurice {Jpn} x Leveller {Redoute’s Choice})
This unraced gelding for Matthew Dunn has a promising pedigree. He is from the Redoute’s Choice mare Leveller, who won the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders' S. and who was stakes-placed at Moonee Valley. As such, Belvedere Boys is a half-brother to the smart filly Frolic, who won the G2 Reisling S. and the R. Listed Inglis Classic, then ran second to She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) in the G1 Golden Slipper.
This gelding was consigned to the 2021 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale by Vinery Stud, but he was passed in with a reserve of $100,00. He was retained by his breeder, M&C Lowe Bloodstock, in whose colours he will race.
Belvedere Boys as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Belvedere Boys is trained by Dunn at Murwillumbah and he’s been promising in trials. His latest occurred at home on June 25, in which he was third. He comes into this debut with barrier 14 after a gelding operation.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday were luckless. At Canterbury Park, Caballus (I Am Invincible) was unplaced, while at Sandown, Piankhi (Lonhro) was also unplaced.
