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.
For racing on Friday, we start at Hamilton with a Shalaa (Ire) gelding. It’s then off to Pakenham, where a close relation to the champion Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa {USA}) debuts, before a Better Than Ready juvenile steps out under lights at the Sunshine Coast.
Hamilton, Race 3, 3pm AEDT, Hamilton Flooring Xtra Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1100m
Shal Exceed, 3-year-old gelding (Shalaa {Ire} x Secretary’s Secret {Exceed And Excel})
This then-colt was offered by his breeder - Sledmere Stud - at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to Danny O'Brien Racing for $110,000.
Shal Exceed is from an unraced half-sister to the stakes performer Rhi’s Rocket (Hinchinbrook).
Shal Exceed as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The gelding’s grandam, Single Rose (Irgun {USA}), won in Listed in company and she is a half-sister to the two-time winner Blind Panic (Bite The Bullet {USA}) - the dam of the Listed scorer One Lickety Split.
The O’Brien-trained Shal Exceed, who has been to the trials on two occasions, will be ridden by Fred Kersley.
Pakenham, Race 1, 6.15pm AEDT, Sportsbet Bet with Mates 3YO Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1400m
Yamamai, 3-year-old filly (Kingman {GB} x Djiva {GB} {High Chaparral {Ire}})
Bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Busuttin Racing paid $220,000 for this Coolmore Stud-consigned filly at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Yamamai is from an unraced mare who has had two foals - neither have raced.
Yamamai as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The filly’s grandam, Born Again (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}), placed at three in France and is a half-sister to the great Goldikova - one of the outstanding racemares of the 21st century. She won 14 Group/Grade 1s and became the first horse to win the same Breeders’ Cup race three times when she landed the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) in 2008, 2009, and 2010, performances that earned her election to the Hall of Fame in 2017.
Other stakes winners on this filly’s page include Terrakova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}).
Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Yamamai will be handled by Thomas Stockdale.
Sunshine Coast, Race 1, 7pm AEDT (6pm local), Tewantin Noosa & Coolum Peregian RSL Sub Branches QTIS 2YO Mdn Plate, $30,000, 1000m
Bourne Ready, 2-year-old colt (Better Than Ready x Demise {Domesday})
Bred by Access Bloodstock, this colt made $30,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions March Yearling Sale. Andrew Racing bought him from Lyndhurst Stud Farm’s consignment.
This is the first foal of an unraced half-sister to Sircconi (Nicconi), who was a four-time winner, scored in Group 2 grade and amassed more than $600,000 in prizemoney.
Bourne Ready as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt is also related to the Group 1 winners Irish Chance (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and The Jewel NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Bourne Ready finished fifth in an 800-metre trial at Eagle Farm on October 24.
Brenton Andrew trains the colt, who will be partnered by Angela Jones.
Looking Back
In the G3 Darley Ottawa S. at Flemington, Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) ran second, while Tessa’s Choice (Extreme Choice) was unplaced. At Hawkesbury, Pasima (Pierro) was third on debut.
