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.
Friday’s racing offers up some exciting prospects, including an expensive colt by Rulership (Jpn) who has found his way to a country stable.
Gundagai, Race 1, 1.15pm AEDT, Gundagai Regional Funerals Mdn, $40,000, 1100m
Kreon, 3-year-old colt (Rulership {Jpn} x Shirayuki {Jpn} {Kurofune {USA}})
Set to run at Gundagai on Friday is Kreon, a promising grey colt for country trainer Danny Williams, who is by prolific Japanese sire Rulership. Boasting 28 stakes winners on his record, his most recognisable progeny to an Australian audience would likely be Mer de Glace (Jpn), who won the G1 Caulfield Cup in 2019.
This colt’s dam is Shirayuki (Jpn), herself a winner as a 2-year-old, and already a global producer of winners. Her two foals to race are Hakubi (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who has won in Japan, and Unexpected (Jpn) (Smart Falcon {Jpn}), who claimed victory over 1600 metres in the United States. Should Kreon break his maiden, it would be three winners in as many continents for Shirayuki, all from Japanese-bred sires.
Kreon as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Danny Williams, who in recent years has trained Group 1 winner Shelby Sixtysix (Toronado {Ire}), spent $370,000 to secure this colt as a yearling in the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He was purchased from the draft of Arrowfield Stud.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 6.30pm AEDT, Ogalo Mdn, $60,000, 1250m
Determination, 3-year-old gelding (Churchill {Ire} x Forget The Weather {USA} {Stormy Atlantic {USA}})
Friday night racing returns to Canterbury Park this week, and with it comes a well-related Churchill (Ire) gelding for the Star Thoroughbreds operation.
Determination hails from a strong family, his dam, Forget The Weather (USA) was a short-course specialist in her racing career, with both of her wins coming over 1000 metres. She passed that trait down to her most successful daughter, Bella Vella (Commands), who was an 11-time winner, including the G1 Robert Sangster S. over 1200 metres. A winner of four stakes races in total, she possessed excellent gate speed and the ability to sustain a fast tempo over shorter trips. Forget The Weather has also produced two other winners, I Love Luka (Wandjina) was victorious over 1600 metres, while Fabulous Fran (More Than Ready {USA}) won over 1000 metres.
Determination as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sold as a yearling for $180,000 by Coolmore Australia at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, he’s had three barrier trials in preparation for his race debut, finishing third at his most recent outing.
Canterbury Park, Race 3, 7.00pm AEDT, Nick’s Group Mdn, $60,000, 1100m
Iced Chocolate, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Unequivocal {Not A Single Doubt})
The powerful training operation of Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes look to have another promising horse on their hands, with expensive yearling Iced Chocolate to make her debut at Canterbury on Friday.
By the all-conquering stallion I Am Invincible, who recently notched up a century of stakes winners, this filly is out of Unequivocal, a stakes-placed runner on multiple occasions, with second placed finishes in the Listed BRC Just Now H. and Listed Hawkesbury Ladies Day Cup. Her record is unblemished as a producer, with her only runner being a winner, Maroon Magic (I Am Invincible), who herself is a full sister to Iced Chocolate.
Iced Chocolate as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She was bred by Fernrigg Farm, who sold her at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for the sum of $400,000. Both barrier trials in preparation for this run have indicated some raw ability, including a 2.3l win under Tyler Schiller, who partners her Friday night.
Looking Back
Two winners emerged out of three runners on Thursday, with both Thunder Award (Shamus Award) and Lost City (Rommel) claiming victory at Pakenham and Bunbury respectively. Our other runner, Onlygoldwilldo (Medaglia D’oro {USA}) finished fourth.
