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.
Saturday presents with two exciting 2-year-olds having their first starts across Sydney and Melbourne, while a well-related daughter of Written Tycoon has her first race start at Newcastle.
Caulfield, Race 1, 12.10pm AEDT, Listed Merson Cooper S., $175,000, 1000m
Media World, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Meryl {Epaulette})
Caulfield hosts the running of the Listed Merson Cooper S. on Saturday, away from its usual home of Sandown. The race has hosted some excellent horses in the early stanza of their career, most notably in modern times Anamoe, who won the race in 2020.
This year, Sydney duo Peter and Paul Snowden bring their regally bred colt Media World (Written Tycoon) south for a shot at some pre-Christmas black type. There’s an avalanche of speed on his page, with sire Written Tycoon renowned for his ability to consistently sire 2-year-olds that not only win but go on to enjoy stallion careers as well.
Media World as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Media World is out of Meryl, a fast mare who won the G3 BJ McLachlan S. in Brisbane as a 2-year-old. She is a half-sister to Chosen Idol - Golden Idol (Choisir), who placed in the Listed Dalrello S. at two, and Miss Idyllic (Exceed And Excel), a speedy filly that picked up second placings in both the Listed Debutant S. and the Listed St Albans S. as a juvenile.
He chased impressive debut winner Spywire (Trapeze Artist) in his only barrier trial, under the guidance of Tommy Berry. The ride on Saturday is taken by Michael Dee, who will steer the $1,400,000 purchase from the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for Yulong Investments, from the draft of Fairview Park Stud.
Rosehill, Race 1, 12.20pm AEDT, Kia Ora Prague H., $160,000, 1100m
Storm Boy, 2-year-old colt (Justify {USA} x Pelican {NZ} {Fastnet Rock})
One of the most exciting prospects seen so far amongst the 2-year-olds to compete in an official barrier trial, Storm Boy will make his eagerly anticipated debut at Rosehill in the opening race of their Saturday program.
The colt garnered plenty of attention from his barrier trial in October, burning around in his 900-metre heat 3.3l clear of his opposition under Adam Hyeronimus. He raised the stakes again at his second trial, this time for Regan Bayliss, crossing the winning post 5.3l ahead of second place.
Storm Boy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
By Justify (USA), who enjoyed tremendous success last season with the likes of Learning To Fly in the 2-year-old division, Storm Boy is out of Fastnet Rock mare Pelican (NZ), twice a winner when racing. He is his dam's first named foal, who is herself a half-sister to stakes-placed Divan (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing parted with $460,000 to secure him at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, out of the draft of Coolmore Stud.
Newcastle, Race 1, 1.50pm AEDT, All Metal Roofing Mdn Plate, $42,000, 900m
Hidden Mogul, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Kryptelon {Falvelon})
Annabel Neasham heads to the Hunter Valley with Hidden Mogul, a filly from a quality family of stakes performers.
By Written Tycoon, she is out of Falvelon mare Kryptelon, a winner of nine races, all over sprinting trips, including the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich. Her progeny have also gone on to be capable performers, with three winners to her name, including the G2 Sires’ Produce S. placegetter Fling (All Too Hard).
Written Tycoon | Standing at Yulong
Plenty of time and patience has been used to get Hidden Mogul ready for her first appearance under starter’s orders. The 3-year-old has had four barrier trials, with her most encouraging coming at the end of October, finishing second.
Purchased out of the draft of Barramul Stud for $230,000 by Annabel Neasham Racing at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she will be partnered by Namibian-born jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven for her debut.
Looking Back
There was some joy from Friday’s selections, with Ranakye (Charge Forward) putting in a professional debut at Mornington. Elsewhere, Sunbeam Legend (The Autumn Sun) and Steel King (NZ) (Deep Field) were unplaced.
