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.
The first of the new season, Australasian juveniles will step out at Wanganui in New Zealand, while in Australia, a well-bred daughter of reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible will debut at Hawkesbury.
Hawkesbury, Race 5, 3pm AEST, Greg Hales Memorial Super 3YO Mdn H., $60,000, 1000m
Bonita Queen, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Quilista {Scandal Keeper {USA}})
Warwick Farm-based trainer Bjorn Baker will send the daughter of I Am Invincible, Bonita Queen, to Hawkesbury on Saturday for start two.
Bonita Queen was placed on debut at the track and distance and will look to go one better with the apprentice Jett Stanley in the saddle.
The filly is the first foal from the Scandal Keeper (USA) mare Quilista. She won nine races, including the G2 Sapphire S. and the G3 Birthday Card S.
Bonita Queen as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Furthermore, this is the family of Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man), who claimed the G3 Sir John Monash S. and was fourth in the G1 Railway S.
Bonita Queen was initially offered at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale by Segenhoe Stud, where Fernrigg Farm paid $340,000 for the filly.
The filly was later reoffered by Fernrigg Farm at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, selling to Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and Cunningham Thoroughbreds for $550,000.
Wanganui, Race 3, 12.12pm AEST (2.12pm local), Whanganui Chronicle 2YO Mdn, $25,000, 800m
Hard Attack (NZ), 2-year-old filly (All Too Hard x Vitriolic Attack {Lope De Vega {Ire}})
The first 2-year-old race for the new season for Australasia will be held at Wanganui, New Zealand.
The Steven Cole stable will debut a daughter of All Too Hard, Hard Attack (NZ).
Hard Attack (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The filly is the second foal from the Lope De Vega (Ire) mare Vitriolic Attack. She was a winner and is related to the Champion 2-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old of Singapore - Gingerbread Man.
Furthermore, this is also the family of the Listed-winning Snitch (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Hard Attack was a NZ$100,000 purchase by Steven Cole Racing from the draft of Westbury Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale.
Wanganui, Race 3, 12.12pm AEST (2.12pm local), Whanganui Chronicle 2YO Mdn, $25,000, 800m
Elegant Jazz (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Russian Revolution x Made The News {High Chaparral {Ire}})
A New Zealand-bred daughter of Russian Revolution, Elegant Jazz (NZ) is trained by Team Rogerson and will debut at Wanganui on Saturday.
Elegant Jazz is the first foal from the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Made The News. She won once and is a granddaughter of Moonflute (Danehill {USA}).
Moonflute won the G2 Furious S. and was placed in the G1 Flight S.
Elegant Jazz (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Furthermore, this is the family of Absolut Glam (Snowland), who won the G1 Winter S. and the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Oaks Classic. Absolut Glam was also placed in the G1 Manikato S.
Elegant Jazz was a NZ$110,000 purchase by Rogerson Bloodstock from the draft of Westbury Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
There was no luck for Friday's selections. Jawharat Dubai (Lonhro) was unplaced at Wyong, while Enxuto (Lean Mean Machine) was also unplaced at Pakenham-Synthetic. Fabdeel (Dundeel {NZ}) was scratched from Seymour.
