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 Wyong, we look at a filly going around for the first time with as good a pedigree as can be expected, being from the immediate family of Redoute’s Choice. Also at Wyong, we pay attention to a debutant colt whose dam was a Group 3 winner. At Moe, we’ve picked up on a debutant gelding whose dam is a full sister to Fighting Sun.
Wyong, Race 2, 1.40pm AEST, Haneco F&M Mdn, $42,000, 1100m
Pajanti, 3-year-old filly (Pierro x Crystal Flute {Encosta De Lago})
This unraced filly is a daughter of the smart mare Crystal Flute, who is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas placegetter Meritable (Snitzel). This is a blue-lined family. The second dam on this page is Monsoon Wedding (Danehill {USA}), who was a full sister to no less than Redoute’s Choice and Platinum Scissors, a three-quarter sister to Al Maher and Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), and a half-sister to Manhattan Rain.
Pajanti was bred by China Horse Club and presented to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Sledmere Stud. She was picked up for $500,000 by Kia Ora Stud.
Pajanti as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is trained for this debut by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, and she’s been good in trials. She was a winner in a Rosehill field over 900 metres on September 5, albeit her most recent outing resulted in being unplaced. She will head into her first race with jockey Ryan Maloney and barrier eight.
Wyong, Race 5, 3.35pm AEST, Omni-Hager-Cabac CG&E Mdn, $42,000, 1100m
Gold Academy, 3-year-old colt (Zoustar x Yattarna {Exceed And Excel})
This colt is the third foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Yattarna, who was a winner of the G3 James HB Carr S. during her race career. This mare is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Fromparis Withlove (Smart Missile), and the second dam on this page is Umaquest (Umatilla {NZ}), who was a Listed Edward Manifold S. winner.
Gold Academy was bred by China Horse Club and consigned to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Sledmere Stud. He was bought for $380,000 by Tasman Bloodstock and is now trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.
Gold Academy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Ahead of this debut, the colt has trialled with mixed results. In late August, he was unplaced and then, on September 5, he was third behind the subsequent Listed Heritage S. winner Ozzmosis (Zoustar). He will carry jockey Ryan Maloney from barrier three.
Moe, Race 1, 1.30pm AEST, Law and Somerville Industries Mdn, $37,500, 1017m
Catalyse, 3-year-old gelding (Exceed And Excel x Atomic Kitten {Northern Meteor})
This unraced gelding was bred by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds. He has an interesting pedigree, being the second foal from the Northern Meteor mare Atomic Kitten. This mare was a winner, but her big ticket is that she is a full sister to the late sire Fighting Sun. The second dam on this page, Irish Darling (Ivory’s Irish), was a dual Oaks winner in South Australia and it’s also the family of the Group-placed Amerock (American {USA}).
Catalyse was consigned by Yarraman Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bought by TFI for $240,000 but is now raced by Clayton Douglas Racing in partnership.
Catalyse as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He is trained by Douglas at Mornington and has been well-trialled this year. He started his career with Annabel Neasham in Sydney before transferring south, and he was third on September 4 for Douglas in an 800-metre barrier trial. In this debut he will have jockey Paul Gatt from barrier four.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday fared okay. At Rosehill Gardens, Dark Halo (Zoustar) was a scratching, while at Bendigo, Barker (Snitzel) was third. At Ipswich, the well-bred Latakia (Deep Field) was second.
