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 sees 2-year-old action from three states, with an expensive colt by Snitzel sure to capture attention early in the day.
Rosehill, Race 1, 12.30pm AEDT, Ned Australian Whisky H., $160,000, 1100m
Switzerland, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Ms Bad Behaviour {Can} {Blame {USA}})
Coolmore Australia will be watching on with interest in the opening race at Rosehill on Saturday, when their $1.5 million man, Switzerland, will make his debut over 1100 metres as the G1 Golden Slipper draws closer with every passing Saturday.
Knocked down to Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the expensive purchase has ended up in the care of trainer Chris Waller, who last year took a son of Snitzel, raced by Coolmore, all the way to Golden Slipper glory, that being Shinzo.
Switzerland as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Switzerland is out of the G3 Ladies S. winner Ms Bad Behaviour (Can), who enjoyed four successes on the racetrack during her career, including one as a 2-year-old.
Top jockey James McDonald will take over riding duties under race conditions from Kerrin McEvoy, who has escorted the colt around two heats earlier this month, in which he finished second and third. For his first race start, he’s come up with barrier 11 of 15 (post-scratchings).
Eagle Farm, Race 1, 1.13pm AEDT (12.13pm local), Racecourse Village H., $85,000, 1200m
Enterprise Defence, 2-year-old colt (Divine Prophet x Granada {Mossman})
Off the strength of a solid second in a recent 850-metre barrier trial, trainer Stuart Kendrick has elected to bring Enterprise Defence to Eagle Farm as a late entry for a competitive debut on Saturday.
He improved sharply into his second heat, which was held on rain-affected ground at the Sunshine Coast Racecourse, a surface he is likely to face for his debut on Saturday.
Divine Prophet | Standing at Aquis Farm
Plenty of his family has enjoyed success in the sunshine state, with dam Granada producing two successful ‘Enterprise’ horses; Enterprise Attack (Spill The Beans), who won three races, and Enterprise Grand (Rothesay), who has picked up seven career victories to date.
Enterprise Defence was originally sold to Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted for $15,500, as a part of the Enterprise Stud dispersal in 2023, but has now ended up being owned by his breeder, Dr Brian Purtle.
Ascot, Race 1, 3.29pm AEDT (12.29pm local), Magic Millions Plate, $80,000, 1000m
Desert Whisper, 2-year-old filly (Rommel x Faerie Whisper {Snitzel})
On the west coast on Saturday, trainer Luke Fernie will debut his fast filly Desert Whisper at Ascot in the opening event of the program, as he looks to continue his recent strong run of form courtesy of the likes of Ripcord (Written By) and Wild Belle (Pride Of Dubai).
Desert Whisper has had just the one 400-metre trial, an often-used platform by Western Australian trainers for 2-year-olds prior to their first start, and she performed strongly, with her time of 23.73s the fastest of the three juvenile heats over the same distance that morning.
Desert Whisper as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Chris Parnham takes the ride, who rides above his career average when in the saddle for the youngest of the Fernie family, striking at 15.4 per cent, compared to his career average of 14 per cent.
The filly is out of a winning Snitzel mare, Faerie Whisper, who was thrice victorious over sprinting trips, and cost syndicators Belhus Racing $34,000 to purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from the draft of Ridgeport Holdings.
Looking Back
On Friday, Al Flores (Exceed And Excel) was comfortably held at Canterbury Park, while the well-fancied Customized (Capitalist) was withdrawn from his assignment at the same venue. Further north at the Sunshine Coast Racecourse, Ser Joh (Capitalist) was narrowly denied in a driving finish.
