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.
Two outstandingly bred fillies will debut at Flemington, while at Randwick, a blue-blooded filly will chase victory at start two.
Flemington, Race 1, 12pm AEST, VRC Member Annabel Cobain Sprint, $150,000, 1000m
Illative, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Pontiana {Redoute’s Choice})
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable will debut a daughter of the Champion Sire I Am Invincible, Illative, at Flemington on Saturday.
Illative’s debut has been one of the most anticipated debutants for the last several months after a series of impressive jump-outs. The filly is the seventh foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Pontiana. She was a dual winner, and placed in the G2 Dane Ripper S. and the Listed Nivison S.
Illative as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pontiana has proved to be an outstanding broodmare. She is the dam of the G1 Randwick Guineas victor Inference, the Group 2-winning Dragon Leap (Pierro) and the exciting dual Listed winner Illation (So You Think {NZ}).
In addition, Pontiana is the dam of Ponterro (Pierro) who produced the outstanding Jacquinot.
Illative was initially consigned to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Coolmore Stud but was withdrawn and is now raced by Coolmore and partners including Lindsay Maxsted who raced Jacquinot.
Flemington, Race 1, 12pm AEST, VRC Member Annabel Cobain Sprint, $150,000, 1000m
Jenni The Jet, 2-year-old filly (Hellbent x Snow Flight {NZ} {Colombia {NZ}})
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable will debut a daughter of Hellbent, Jenni The Jet, at Flemington on Saturday.
The filly is the ninth foal from the Colombia (NZ) mare Snow Flight (NZ). She was a five-time winner from 1600 to 2400 metres. Snow Flight is the dam of Viddora (I Am Invincible), a nine-time winner who won the G1 Winterbottom S. and the G1 Moir S.
Jenni The Jet as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Viddora also claimed the G3 RN Irwin S. and the Listed Lighting S. In addition, she was also placed in the G1 Robert Sangster S. and was sold to Yulong for $2.55 million at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Jenni The Jet was a $310,000 yearling purchase by A Ottobre from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Randwick, Race 1, 11.10am AEST, Inglis Race Series Closing H., $150,000, 1400m
I Am Famous, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Pinocchio {Encosta De Lago})
Rosehill-based trainer Chris Waller will saddle up I Am Famous for start two on Saturday at Randwick.
The blue-blooded filly ran third on debut over 1200 metres at Warwick Farm, and the step-up to 1400 metres looks to suite I Am Famous.
I Am Famous is the fifth foal from the Encosta De Lago mare Pinocchio. She won over 1200 metres and is a sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Racing To Win.
I Am Famous as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pinocchio is the dam of Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), who claimed The Everest and the G3 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint, and Aethero (Sebring), who was placed in the G1 HKJC Longines Hong Kong Sprint before being prematurely retired.
I Am Famous was a $2 million yearling purchase by The Yellow Brick Road Company and Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Tyreel Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Friday's selections fared well. Batrana (Justify {USA}) scored at Geelong on debut, while Rouge Moulin (I Am Invincible) was unplaced at Geelong. Rounding out the selections was Single 'N' Ready (More Than Ready {USA}) who was unplaced at Bairnsdale.
