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.
Wednesday racing features a number of promising prospects stepping out along the eastern seaboard, including the first ever Australian runner for exciting stallion Calyx (GB).
Warwick Farm, Race 1, 2pm AEDT, Hyland Race Colours Mdn H., $60,000, 1000m
Husk, 2-year-old filly (Calyx {GB} x Tikal {Denman})
Renowned for their ability to produce a handy 2-year-old, the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes team will unveil their promising debutant Husk in the opening race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
She is set to be the first Australian runner for Calyx, who has made a strong start to his stallion career in the Northern Hemisphere, siring 24 winners from his first 57 runners, three of which won at black-type level.
Calyx (GB) | Standing at Coolmore Ireland
Her dam, Tikal, has already produced a prolific winner in the form of Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince), who has been a revelation as a stayer since relocating to Western Australia to join Grant and Alana Williams, now prominent as one of the leading chances in the G2 Perth Cup.
Husk has shown some ability at the barrier trials, running second in her only public appearance to date. Group 1-winning jockey Tyler Schiller takes the ride, where barrier four awaits the pair in a field of seven.
Bred by Kirks Bridge Farm in New South Wales, she was kept to race, and has never been offered at public auction.
Flemington, Race 1, 3pm AEDT, Eynesbury Estate Mdn Plate, $55,000, 1200m
Acid Wash, 3-year-old gelding (American Pharoah {USA} x Silverbeat {Distant Music {USA}})
Catching the eye on debut behind Motoman (Super One), when making strong ground from the back of the field to be defeated by just 0.3l, Acid Wash heads to Flemington on Wednesday at start number two in an attempt to go one better.
The Clinton McDonald-trained gelding, who fetched $180,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, is by Triple Crown-winning sire American Pharoah (USA) who has already sired eight individual Group 1 winners, including the G1 VRC Derby winner Riff Rocket.
Acid Wash as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Acid Wash is a half-sibling to Upbeat (Strategic), Bella Martini (Stratum), Volcanic Ash - Volcanic General and Alpha Beat (Magnus), all of whom tasted victory at stakes level.
Jordan Childs retains the ride from the debut effort at Sandown-Lakeside, in which he completed the last 200 metres in a race-best 11.06s, a figure good enough to be the fastest final split of the entire meeting.
Doomben, Race 6, 5.14pm AEDT (4.14pm local), Sky Racing Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Bloodhawke, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Zastava {Encosta De Lago})
Chris Munce will unveil promising 3-year-old Bloodhawke in the sixth race at Doomben on Wednesday, having trialled impressively in November.
Getting around the 840-metre trial course at the same venue he debuts at under Robbie Dolan, who retains the ride for his first competitive start, the son of I Am Invincible looked professional in his 1l victory, and showed significant improvement from his first trial back in April, where he was comfortably beaten by 5.8l.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Given time by Munce to find his feet, Bloodhawke comes from a family of performers at black-type level, his dam Zastava has already produced the Listed Geelong Classic winner Confrontational (Redoute’s Choice), and five of her six foals to race are winners. He is also related to the G1 Sires’ Produce S. winner Zamoff (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}) and the G2 Craiglee S. (now G1 Makybe Diva S.) winner Confectioner (Bubble Gum Fellow {Jpn}).
Sold for $260,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale out of the draft of Baramul Stud, he will race in the Ezybonds colours, originally worn by Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) as he rose to stardom.
Looking Back
None of our fillies were able to taste success on Tuesday, Miss Piera (Pierata) was a scratching from the second race at Scone, in which Madame Fiocca (Microphone) was the runner up. At Terang, Miss Terasita (Trapeze Artist) was withdrawn on race morning.
