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 big Saturday of 2-year-old racing will see three exciting juveniles make their raceday debuts.
Randwick, Race 5, 2.40pm AEDT, R. Listed Inglis Nursery, $500,000, 1000m
Jupiter Hills, 2-year-old filly (Exceedance x Miss Gunpowder {Pendragon {NZ}})
Vinery Stud’s exciting first-season sire, Exceedance, has made a flying start to his stud career. On Saturday, in the valuable $500,000 R. Listed Inglis Nursery, his promising daughter Jupiter Hills is a leading chance.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly is the second foal from the Pendragon (NZ) mare Miss Gunpowder. A talented runner for Phillip Stokes, she won eight races, including the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and was placed in the G3 Proud Miss S.
Jupiter Hills as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Jupiter Hills is related to the G1 Winter S. and the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Oaks Classic victress Absolut Glam (Snowland), who also finished in the placings in the G1 Manikato S. and the G1 Stradbroke H.
The filly is a graduate of Vinery Stud’s 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft, where Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing, alongside Kestrel Thoroughbreds, paid $380,000 to secure her.
Eagle Farm, Race 4, 2.48pm AEDT (1.48pm local), Listed Aquis Stallions Calway Gal, $200,000, 1000m
Naughty Nurse, 2-year-old filly (Russian Revolution x Nurse Kitchen {NZ} {Savabeel})
Naughty Nurse is the third foal to race from the talented Nurse Kitchen (NZ). The filly by Russian Revolution is from Kris Lees' Newcastle yard and is set to debut at Eagle Farm in Queensland on Saturday.
Nurse Kitchen, trained by Peter Moody when racing, won the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic and was placed in the G1 Vinery Stud S. Naughty Nurse is from the family of Upper Limits (Exosphere), who won the Listed Aquanita S. and was placed in the Listed Belmont Classic and the Listed Belmont Guineas.
Naughty Nurse as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds races Naughty Nurse, and she was a $250,000 purchase by the syndicator from the draft of The Chase at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Ballarat, Race 2, 12.40pm AEDT, Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic, $250,000, 1000m
Parkour, 2-year-old colt (Extreme Choice x Trestrail {Sebring})
Godolphin’s Head Trainer James Cummings will debut a son of Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice, Parkour, in Saturday’s $250,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic.
Parkour is the first foal from the Sebring mare Trestrail, a winner over 1200 metres. Parkour’s third dam is the Straight Strike (USA) mare Egyptian Ibis (NZ), a victress of two races as a juvenile, including the Listed Waltzing Lily H. and was fourth in the G2 Breeders’ Plate.
Parkour as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Egyptian Ibis is the dam of Desert Eagle (Hurricane Sky). He won the G1 Emirates S. among his 11 victories and was raced in Hong Kong under the name of Grand Delight, where he added further features races such as the Listed Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
Parkour was a $600,000 purchase by Godolphin from the draft of Goodwood Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking back
There wasn't much luck for Friday's selections. Spruce (Pariah) and Shy Rebel (Merchant Navy) were both unplaced at Doomben. The best result, a third place, was provided by the I Am Invincible filly Monte Kate, at Canterbury Park.
