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.
Three well-bred 3-year-olds will debut across Australia on Wednesday.
Sandown-Hillside, Race 1, 12.25pm AEST, Ladbroke It! Plate, $55,000, 1300m
Bogues, 3-year-old colt (Justify {USA} x Coral Coast {So You Think {NZ}})
Kyneton-based trainer Liam Howley will debut a son of the Champion Australian First Season Sire Justify (USA), Bogues, at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday.
The colt is the first foal from the So You Think (NZ) mare Coral Coast. She won twice from 1600 to 2050 metres and was fourth in the G1 Queensland Oaks and the G2 The Roses.
Bogues as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Coral Coast is a daughter of Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed {USA}), an outstanding filly who claimed the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the G1 Captain Cook S.
Furthermore, this is the family of another New Zealand 1000 Guineas victress Media Sensation (I Am Invincible).
Bogues was a $240,000 yearling purchase by Liam Howley Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sandown-Hillside, Race 1, 12.25pm AEST, Ladbroke It! Plate, $55,000, 1300m
Mercante, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel {NZ} x Breccia {NZ} {Fastnet Rock})
Ballarat-based trainer Nigel Blackiston is set to debut a blue-blooded son of Dundeel (NZ), Mercante at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday.
The gelding is the sixth foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Breccia (NZ). She was a dual winner over 2000 metres and a half-sister to the G1 Toorak H. victress Allez Wonder (Redoute’s Choice), who is the dam of the Group 3 winner Kooweerup (More Than Ready {USA}).
Mercante as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Breccia has proven a gem of a broodmare; she is the dam of the G1 All Aged S. winner, Tivaci who too won the G3 CS Hayes S. and the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas. The son of High Chaparral (Ire) stands at Waikato Stud and has produced the Group 1 winner Never Been Kissed (NZ).
Mercante was a $300,000 purchase by Nigel Blackiston Thoroughbred Racing from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Warwick Farm, Race 1, 1.25pm AEST, Furphy H., $60,000, 1200m
Carrazana (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Almanzor {Fr} x Empress Cixi {GB} {Shamardal {USA}})
Champion Trainer Chris Waller will saddle up Carrazana (NZ), a son of Almanzor (Fr), at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The gelding is the fifth foal from the unraced Shamardal (USA) mare Empress Cixi (GB). She is a half-sister to the G2 Prix Greffulhe S. winner Ocovango (GB), who was also placed in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris.
Carrazana (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Empress Cixi is the dam of Manchu (Redoute’s Choice) placed in the G3 Eulogy S.
Carrazana was a $440,000 yearling purchase by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Tuesday's selections fared well. Akicita (Grunt {NZ}) was an impressive winner on debut at Pakenham-Synthetic, while Pearl Crescent (Not A Single Doubt) was unplaced at the same venue.
