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.
Given it’s Melbourne Cup Day, it’s fitting we kick off at Flemington with a debutante in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate. The colt we have found is a well-related son of Written Tycoon. We then head to Kembla Grange where the half-sister to a stakes performer begins her career, and we finish up in Perth, with a Pierro gelding who is out of a quality broodmare.
Flemington, Race 1, 10.45am AEDT, Darley Maribyrnong Plate, $200,000, 1000m
Catoggio, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Palazzo Pubblico {Conatus})
Bred by Gerry Harvey, this colt was offered by Baramul Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was secured by Rosemont Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $460,000.
Catoggio, who is named after the former Carlton VFL player Vin Catoggio, is from a seven-time winner who scored twice in Listed grade.
Written Tycoon | Standing at Yulong
A half-brother to the Listed winner Palazzo Spirit (Spirit Of Boom), the colt is closely related to the Group 3 victress Moreish (More Than Ready {USA}), while his third dam is the dual Group 2 winner My Sienna (Weasel Clause).
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Catoggio won one of his two trials and will be handled on debut by Tim Clark from barrier four.
Kembla Grange, Race 4, 2.45pm AEDT, I98 Feel Good Mdn H., $42,000, 1200m
Ichika, 3-year-old filly (Maurice {Jpn} x Only Roses {Redoute’s Choice})
This filly was consigned by her breeder - Arrowfield Stud - at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was bought for $380,000 by H & H Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.
Ichika is out of a 1200-metre winner who is a half-sister to the stakes winners Blahnik (Jeune {GB}), The Inevitable (Dundeel {NZ}), Elysees (Statue Of Liberty {USA}) and the stakes performer Petman (Lonhro).
The filly’s grandam, Gift Bouquet (King’s High), scored in Listed company and she has thrown 11 winners.
Ichika as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Ichika is a half-sister to the stakes performer Game Of Thorns (Animal Kingdom {USA}).
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the filly has trialled on four occasions and she won the most recent of those.
Louise Day has the ride.
Ascot, Race 4, 4.59pm AEDT (1.59pm local), Bisley Workwear H., $35,000, 1200m
Transcribe, 3-year-old gelding (Pierro x Subtitle {Fastnet Rock})
This then-colt made $300,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was bred and offered by Coolmore.
Transcribe is from a winner at 1200 metres who has thrown the Group 3 winner Rock (Pierro) and the stakes performer Femme Fireball (Pierro).
Transcribe as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Other stakes winners on the gelding’s page include Credit Account (NZ) (Imposing) and Bishop Of Cashel (GB).
Takahide Ikenushi trains the 3-year-old, who is owned by Peters Investments and will be partnered by William Pike.
Transcribe failed to finish in the top three in three Lark Hill Trials.
Looking Back
From Sunday at Mornington, in Race 3, Hennessey Venom (Exceed And Excel) was unplaced, while Flying Mean (Lean Mean Machine) was scratched. And in Race 4, Pipi Road (Grunt {NZ}) finished seventh.
