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 Kembla Grange, we have two very nice pedigrees to consider. The first is Nicconori (Nicconi) in the opener, a 3-year-old half-brother to a stakes winner, while in the second race, we look at the debut of a $1.7 million yearling. At Kyneton, we look at a debutant gelding from a full sister to Acrobat, Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock) and Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock).
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 1.15pm AEDT, The Gong Now On Sale Mdn, $42,000, 1000m
Nicconori, 3-year-old gelding (Nicconi x Takanori {Vital Equine {Ire}})
This gelding is the sixth foal from the broodmare Takanori, who was a stakes winner before her producing career. She is the dam of the 2019 Listed Nudgee S. winner Tahitian Dancer (Dawn Approach {Ire}), as such a half-sister to this gelding.
The second dam on this page is the very good producer Nishikawa (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), who, along with Takanori, is the dam of the last year’s Western Australian stakes winner Rokanori (Awesome Rock). This is a strong female family because it also features the excellent Alma’s Fury.
Nicconi | Standing at Widden Victoria
Nicconori was bred by Willow Park Stud in alliance with several partners, most of which are racing this gelding. He wasn’t offered for sale as a yearling and is trained by Joseph Pride at Warwick Farm. He was recently gelded. He’s has had three trials spread through this year and he has steadily improved, finishing third in his last two. He will jockey Tyler Schiller from barrier four.
Kembla Grange, Race 2, 1.50pm AEDT, Big Dance Now On Sale Super Mdn, $60,000, 1500m
Unquestionably, 3-year-old gelding (Not A Single Doubt x Miss Admiration {Sebring})
This gelding has plenty of pedigree to match a hefty price-tag. He is the first foal from the Group 3-winning Miss Admiration, who was third in the G1 Australian Oaks and G1 South Australian Oaks during a very good career. This is a strong Oaks family with the second dam, Admiring (Street Cry {Ire}), being third in the Group 3 Western Australian version, and Empire Dancer (Second Empire {USA}), her half-sister, winning the Listed Belmont Oaks.
Unquestionably was consigned by Segenhoe Stud to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and TFI for $1.7 million.
Unquestionably as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The gelding has been trialled extensively with mixed results earlier this year. On September 25, he was third in a 1207-metre barrier event at Warwick Farm. In this debut he will have jockey Tommy Berry from barrier one.
Kyneton, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Bet365 Protest Promise Mdn, $37,500, 1210m
Lambay, 3-year-old colt (Zoustar x Irish Sea {Fastnet Rock})
This colt is from one of the most happening pedigrees in the Stud Book. He is from the Fastnet Rock mare Irish Sea, who is a full sister to Acrobat, Lake Geneva and Ennis Hill, the latter the dam of Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}). This family keeps producing through the second dam, Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who is a half-sister to the dam of the Group 2 winner and now sire, Splintex.
Lambay was consigned by Coolmore to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock for $650,000.
Lambay as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
He is trained by Waller at Flemington but started his career in barrier trials in Sydney earlier this year, running second and third in trials in May. He has placed similarly in Flemington jump-outs and comes into this debut with jockey Michael Dee and barrier one.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday were unlucky. At Warwick Farm, the juveniles Maili (Yes Yes Yes) and Micro Magic (Microphone) were unplaced in the opener, while at Sale, Big Swan (Dundeel {NZ}) was a smart winner.
