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.
Three exciting juveniles are set to debut across Australia on Saturday, including a close relation to the star mare Miss Finland (Redoute's Choice).
Flemington, Race 3, 1.20pm AEDT, Listed TCL Talindert S., $175,000, 1100m
Bittercreek, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Rose Of Cimmaron {Bite The Bullet {USA}})
The well-related Bittercreek is set to debut in Saturday’s Listed Talindert S. at Flemington for Leon and Troy Corstens.
Bittercreek is a son of Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Snitzel and is the eighth foal from the Bite The Bullet (USA) mare Rose Of Cimmaron. She won twice, but from her five foals to race, all have been winners, including the Group 3 winners Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) and Bull Point.
Both Siege Of Quebec and Bull Point were high-priced yearlings. The former achieved $1.2 million at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while the latter made $960,000 when sold at the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bittercreek as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Rose Of Cimmaron hasn’t had a live foal since Bittercreek but was served by Capitalist last spring.
Bittercreek is also related to the multiple Group 1 winner Criterion (NZ) and his Group 1-winning half-brother Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock). Further down the page is the flying mare Najoom (Northern Meteor), the dam of the brilliant filly Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) and her Listed-winning full sister Najmaty.
Bittercreek was a $375,000 yearling purchase by Malua Bloodstock and Baystone Farm from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Baystone Farm reoffered the colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale, where he passed in at $700,000.
Randwick, Race 1, 12.30pm AEDT, Coolmore Pierro Plate, $160,000, 1100m
Duvana, 2-year-old colt (Dundeel {NZ} x Stay With Me {Street Cry {Ire}})
The Chris Waller-trained Duvana will debut in the Coolmore Pierro Plate at Randwick on Saturday.
The well-related colt is the fourth foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Stay With Me, who won the G1 Thousand Guineas and the Listed Atlantic Jewel S.
Stay With Me’s second foal, Waltz On By (I Am Invincible), has proven to be a talented runner, winning the Listed Jim Moloney S. and the Listed Bendigo Guineas, as well as a placing in the G2 Queen of the South.
Duvana as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Duvana’s second dam is the great mare, Miss Finland, a victress of the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 VRC Oaks among her 11 victories. Miss Finland has proven to be an outstanding producer. Alongside Stay With Me, she is the dam of the late Miracle Of Love (Dundeel {NZ}), who was placed in the G1 JJ Atkins S. and Bucharest (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who finished third in the G1 Spring Champion S.
Miss Finland also produced the Group 3 winner Earth Angel (Animal Kingdom {USA}) and the Listed-placed Woodbine (Hussonet {USA}).
Arrowfield Stud is set to offer the I Am Invincible half-sister to Duvana at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 316, while she foaled a full brother in October and revisited Dundeel (NZ) in the spring.
Duvana was an $800,000 purchase by Kia Ora and TFI from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Flemington, Race 3, 1.20pm AEDT, Listed TCL Talindert S., $175,000, 1100m
Eject, 2-year-old colt (Street Boss {USA} x Banish {Lonhro})
Eject, a son of Darley’s Street Boss (USA), will debut at Flemington for Anthony and Sam Freedman after a series of impressive trial performances.
The Godolphin-owned colt is the third foal from the Lonhro mare Banish, who won four races, including the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic. Banish is a daughter of the Listed winner and Group 2-placed Meidung (Bernardini {USA}).
Street Boss (USA) | Standing at Darley
Meidung is a half-sister to the late Gamay (Pierro), who won the G3 Ethereal S. and Maidel (Ad Valorem {USA}), the dam of the G2 Schillaci S. victor Dirty Work, who now stands at Widden Victoria.
Banish has a yearling filly by Bivouac named Expulsion and foaled a full brother to Eject in October before being part of the Champion Anamoe’s debut book.
Looking Back
Friday's best result came from Yayoi (I Am Invincible), who finished fourth at Canterbury. Meanwhile, Yoshinobu (Written Tycoon) and Duvana (Dundeel {NZ}) were scratched from the opener at Canterbury.
