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 runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Thursday, including two well-bred Zoustar fillies and an exciting Per Incanto (USA) colt.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Computer Talk -Business I.T Experts Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1400m
Infinity Imperial, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Imperial Lass {NZ} {Tavistock {NZ}})
Sportsbet-Pakenham’s Thursday meeting will serve as the starting point for the career of Infinity Imperial, a well-bred daughter of Zoustar from the Liam Howley stable.
Infinity Imperial is out of the high-class staying filly Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). She won three races and was talented enough to manage a placing in the G1 Queensland Oaks.
Infinity Imperial’s half-brother Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock) has been a top-level performer in both Australia and Hong Kong. Amongst his six wins have included the G2 Jockey Club Cup, and the G3 Carbine Club S.
Infinity Imperial as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Other high-profile members of this very successful family are the G1 ATC Derby winner Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and the handy Group-winning mare La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Infinity Imperial was a $900,000 purchase by Liam Howley Racing, Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Bevan Smith Bloodstock from the draft of Torryburn Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 3, 6.45pm AEDT, Battery Zone Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Evaporate (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Per Incanto {USA} x Savanna {NZ} {Animal Kingdom {USA}})
The well-bred Evaporate (NZ) is set to have his second start over 1200 metres for Ben, Will and JD Hayes on the back of a promising fourth at Caulfield in Group 3 company on February 3 over 1000 metres.
Evaporate is a son of Little Avondale Stud’s proven sire Per Incanto and is the third foal from the Animal Kingdom (USA) mare Savanna (NZ). She was unraced on the track and is a half-sister to the Per Incanto Group-winning mare Belluci Babe (NZ). This makes Evaporate a three-quarter brother to Belluci Babe.
Evaporate (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Evaporate sold for $330,000 at the 2023 Magic Million Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Lindsay Park Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Sledmere Stud.
Savanna has since produced a yearling half-sister by Bivouac and was again served by Per Incanto last spring.
Wyong, Race 5, 4.10pm AEDT, Levelmaster Mdn Plate, $42,000, 1300m
Khaznah, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Modern Wonder {Snitzel})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Khaznah will have her second start in the Levelmaster Mdn Plate over 1300 metres on the back of a third-placing on debut on the same track where she battled on well from an on-pace position.
The well-related filly is the second foal from the Snitzel mare Modern Wonder, who won the Listed SAJC Dequetteville S. over 1100 metres. Khaznah has a very interesting pedigree profile and has been inbred to Redoute’s Choice in her third generation with her sire Zoustar being out of a Redoute’s Choice mare and her dam being by Snitzel, a son of Redoute’s Choice.
Modern Wonder’s first foal, Wonderwall (Sebring), was a minor winner over 1400 metres and has been served by Vinery Stud’s proven stallion All Too Hard, and her third foal Innervisions (I Am Invincible) looks very promising and was good enough to gain black type at his first start, placing in the Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings) for trainer Annabel Neasham.
Khaznah as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Khaznah’s second dam is the Elusive Quality (USA) mare Elusive Wonder, she was handy on the track as a Listed-placed sprinter but her biggest claim to fame is leaving the super talented Snitzel filly Away Game who won $3,750,225 on the track including the G2 Percy Sykes S., she was very unlucky not to win a Group 1, although did manage three Group 1-placings including a runner-up position in the G1 Golden Slipper.
In more recent times Away Game sold at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale fetching $4 million to the bid of the Written Tycoon Syndicate. Last spring Away Game foaled a Written Tycoon filly and was once again served by Yulong Stud’s Written Tycoon.
Khaznah’s dam Modern Wonder produced a Written Tycoon filly last spring and was most recently served by Australia’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible.
Khaznah was a $360,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
A good day for our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday with Linebacker (NZ) and Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) bringing up the quinella in Race 1 at Hawkesbury. While at Sandown-Lakeside Little Stirrer (Written Tycoon) scored impressively at just her second start.
