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.
We kick off on Friday with a More Than Ready (USA) 2-year-old, who is from the family of the much-missed Not A Single Doubt. After that, we head to Geelong, where a homebred Justify (USA) juvenile debuts for Sheikh Mohammed in Khalifa Al Maktoum. Our final runner is a well-bred 3-year-old by I Am Invincible and he too goes around at Geelong.
Bairnsdale, Race 1, 12.10pm AEST, Bet365 - Odds Drift Protector Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Single ‘N’ Ready, 2-year-old filly (More Than Ready {USA} x Flying Single {Flying Spur})
This filly was bred by Ian Smith and she was offered by his Edinburgh Park Stud at 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Kennewell Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) / H & H Bloodstock went to $140,000 for the filly.
Single 'N' Ready as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Single ‘N’ Ready is from a mare that raced once and is a three-quarter sister to the stakes performer Sharp Aunty (Flying Spur) and a half-sister to the stakes winners Not A Single Doubt, Come Hither (Redoute’s Choice) and Fun In Flight (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}).
The filly is also closely related to the Group 1 heroine Oohood (I Am Invincible), as well as the Listed scorer Zizou.
Trained by Lloyd Kennewell, Single ‘N’ Ready will be partnered by apprentice Matthew Cartwright.
Geelong, Race 2, 12.30pm AEST, Attvest Finance 2YO Fillies Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Batrana, 2-year-old filly (Justify {USA} x Badawiya {Al Maher})
A homebred for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, this filly is by Australia’s leading first-season sire from a four-time winner who scored twice in Group 2 grade and was placed at the elite level. Badawiya is a half-sister to the stakes winners Rumya (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}) and Super Dynasty (Fastnet Rock).
Justify (USA) | Standing at Coolmore
Other stakes winners on the filly’s page include Run Naan (Makfi {GB}), Raihana (Elusive Quality {USA}) and Rageese.
Tony and Calvin McEvoy train the filly who will be handled by Harry Coffey.
Geelong, Race 3, 1.05pm AEST, National Transport Insurance Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Rouge Moulin, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Risque {NZ} {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
Bred by Neil Werrett, Rouge Moulin was a $700,000 buy at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was consigned by Vinery Stud and purchased by Busuttin Racing.
Rouge Moulin as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The gelding is the first foal of the 2015 G1 New Zealand Thousand Guineas heroine Risque (NZ). She chalked up four wins in her career, with three of them coming in Listed grade.
Rouge Moulin’s second dam, So Explicit (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), was a 2-year-old winner and stakes performer. She is closely related to the stakes winners Tycoon Tango (NZ) (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Cousin Colin (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}).
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding will race in the prominent Seymour Bloodstock silks and will be ridden by Daniel Moor.
Looking Back
Not a great day! Following the scratching of Belvedere Boys (Maurice {Jpn}) from Race 3 at Grafton, we were left with O’Explosive (Zoustar) in Race 6 at Gosford and Theodor (Trapeze Artist) in Race 1 Bendigo. Both were unplaced.
