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.
A colt by the first-season sire Microphone will debut at Newcastle. At the same time a well-related colt by the pensioned Lonhro will have his first start at the venue.
Newcastle, Race 2, 2.36pm AEDT, The Parks Bistro & Catering 2YO Mdn Plate, $42,000, 900m
Mega Mic, 2-year-old colt (Microphone x Allure {NZ} {Lonhro})
Darley’s first-season sire, Microphone, recently broke the ice to sire his first winner, and on Sunday, the young sire will be represented by Mega Mic.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace train the 2-year-old colt, the first foal of the Lonhro mare Allure (NZ), who won as a juvenile and finished fourth in the Listed Castletown S.
Mega Mic is related to the G3 Sunline Vase S. victress Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Sacred Master (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who won the G2 Avondale Cup and the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup.
Mega Mic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt also counts the G1 Maori RC WFA S. winner Culminate (NZ) (Elndadim {USA}), a talented mare who won 12 races.
Mega Mic was a $260,000 pinhook by Musk Creek Farm from Vinery Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. Musk Creek Farm reoffered the colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he failed to meet his reserve of $300,000.
Mega Mic races in the colours of Musk Creek Farm.
Newcastle, Race 2, 2.36pm AEDT, The Parks Bistro & Catering 2YO Mdn Plate, $42,000, 900m
Skogafoss, 2-year-old colt (Lonhro x Spring Waterfall {Ire} {Exceed And Excel})
The James Cummings-trained and Godolphin-bred and -owned Skogafoss, a son of Lonhro will debut on Sunday at Newcastle.
The colt is the second foal from the Spring Waterfall (Ire), an Irish-bred daughter of Exceed And Excel and half-sister to the brilliant Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice).
Lonhro
Spring Waterfall won once in France, but the main strength lies in her outstanding family.
Miss Finland, a Champion as a 2- and 3-year-old winning such races as the G1 Golden Slipper and the G1 VRC Oaks, has produced the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}), and she, in turn, is the dam of the dual Listed winner Waltz On By (I Am Invincible).
Looking Back
Saturday's selections were disappointing. Fireupzous (Zousain) was unplaced at Doomben, while in Perth at Ascot Pretey Royal (Royal Meeting {Ire}) was also unplaced.
