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-related juveniles will step out on Saturday. Two juveniles by the first-season sires, Alabama Express and Microphone, will chase victory at Randwick, Sydney. While at Bendigo in Victoria, a beautifully bred son of Brazen Beau will debut.
Randwick, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, James Squire Kirkham Plate, $160,000, 1000m
Shangri La Express, 2-year-old colt (Alabama Express x Sent From Above {Lonhro})
It is no secret Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are noted trainers of precocious juveniles, and on Saturday at Randwick, the stable will saddle up Shangri La Express.
The colt is a son of Yulong’s first-season sire Alabama Express, who will be looking for his second winner.
Shangri La Express is the second foal from the Lonhro mare Sent From Above. She won over 900 metres and is a half-sister to the G2 Magic Night S. placegetter Major Conquest (More Than Ready {USA}).
Shangri La Express as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sent From Above is from the Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) mare Gamble Me. She won six races, including the G3 Birthday Card S., the G3 Thoroughbred Club S., the Red Roses S., and the Moomba Plate at the Listed level.
Shangri La Express was a $220,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Yulong at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Randwick, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, James Squire Kirkham Plate, $160,000, 1000m
Miss Judas, 2-year-old filly (Microphone x Sistine Angel {Testa Rossa})
Darley’s first-season sire, Microphone, will look to sire his first winner with the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Miss Judas.
The filly is the seventh foal from the Testa Rossa mare Sistine Angel. She won the G2 Edward Manifold S. and the G3 HDF McNeil S. and placed in the G1 Robert Sangster S. and the G2 Gilgail S.
Sistine Angel is a half-sister to Sistine Demon (Excites), a victor of the G3 Victoria H. and the Listed March S.
Miss Judas as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Furthermore, Miss Judas is from the family of the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S., winner Land Speed Record.
The filly was a $320,000 purchase by Richard and Will Freedman from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bendigo, Race 1, 1.06pm AEDT, Roll The Dice Racing 2YO Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Spotted, 2-year-old colt (Brazen Beau x Leopard {Animal Kingdom {USA}})
Godolphin’s head trainer, James Cummings, will debut the well-related Spotted, a son of Brazen Beau.
The colt is a homebred for Godolphin Australia and comes from one of their best families. Spotted is the second foal from the Animal Kingdom (USA) mare Leopard.
She only raced once. However, Leopard is a half-sister to the outstanding triple Group 1 winner Alizee (Sepoy) and the G1 Golden Rose hero - Astern.
In addition, Leopard is the dam of Amur (Snitzel), a victor of the G3 TL Bailileu H. and a placegetter in the G2 Sires’ Produce S.
Looking Back
There wasn't much luck for our Friday selections. Our best result was Newzou (Zoustar) who ran third at Pakenham, while Shampas (So You Think {NZ}) was unplaced at the same venue. Earlier on Friday at Moe Sir Packets (Encryption) was also unplaced.
