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 intriguing first-starters will hit the track on Sunday at Mornington. Among them is a granddaughter of the rare white thoroughbred The Opera House (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Mornington, Race 3, 2.00pm AEDT, Millennium Services Group Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Flying Mean, 3-year-old gelding (Lean Mean Machine x I’m A Flying Star {Starcraft {NZ}})
Cranbourne-based horseman Clinton McDonald will debut a son of Lean Mean Machine, Flying Mean, on Sunday at Mornington.
The November-born gelding is the third foal from the three-time winner I’m A Flying Star, a daughter of the grand galloper Starcraft (NZ).
Flying Mean as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Flying Mean is closely related to the R. Listed Inglis 2YO Classic victress Lady Jivago (Beneteau) and the outstanding sire Not A Single Doubt. The gelding is also from the family of Group 1 winners Oohood (I Am Invincible) and King’s Legacy.
Clinton McDonald paid $240,000 to secure Flying Mean from the draft of Collingrove Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Mornington, Race 3, 2.00pm AEDT, Millennium Services Group Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Hennessey Venom, 3-year-old colt (Exceed And Excel x Royal Bender {Refuse To Bend {Ire}})
A colt by Darley’s Exceed And Excel, Hennessey Venom, from the locally-based trainer Matt Laurie, will debut at his home track on Sunday.
Hennessey Venom is the fifth foal from the Refuse To Bend (Ire) mare Royal Bender; she won six races and was placed in the Listed Sir John Monash S.
Hennessey Venom as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Raging Queen (Akeed Mofeed {GB}), while this is also the family of the G3 Angus Armanasco S.-placed Zoubo (Zoustar).
Hennessey Venom, a graduate of Edinburgh Park Stud’s 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, was purchased by Bahen Bloodstock and Matt Laurie Racing for $300,000.
Mornington, Race 4, 2.35pm AEDT, Surdex Sheet & Coil Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Pipi Road, 3-year-old filly (Grunt {NZ} x Utzon {NZ} {Charm Spirit {Ire}})
A filly from the Cranbourne-based stable of Cindy Alderson will debut on Sunday at Mornington. The filly is a daughter of the second-season sire Grunt (NZ) and is the first foal from the Charm Spirit (Ire) mare Utzon (NZ). She is a rare white thoroughbred and the daughter of The Opera House.
The Opera House carries the elusive white coat like her daughter, and she is also closely related to the Champion galloper Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who at this time of the year in 1997 had won the G1 Caulfield Cup and would win the G1 Melbourne Cup in a sensational front-running performance.
Pipi Road as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Furthermore, the dual Group 1 victress Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) is from the family of Pipi Road.
The filly was a $20,000 purchase by Beamish Bloodstock International from the draft of Yulong at the 2022 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
The only runner from Saturday's selections was Cutting Edge (Spirit Of Boom), who finished third at Eagle Farm, while Climactic (Yes Yes Yes) was scratched from the event. Diligente (Pariah) was also scratched from her engagement at Beaudesert.
