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 Friday, including 2-year-old’s by Zoustar and Too Darn Hot (GB) going head-to-head at Canterbury and a well-bred Capitalist gelding making his debut at Canberra.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 6pm AEDT, Ranvet H., $60,000, 1100m
Bengal, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Mumbai Rock {Fastnet Rock})
Canterbury Park’s Friday night meeting will serve as the starting point for the career of Bengal, a well-bred son of Zoustar from the Chris Waller stable.
Bengal is out of the Fastnet Rock mare, Mumbai Rock. She was a winner at two and since then has made a great name for herself as a top-quality proven broodmare. She has had five foals to race and all have been winners, including Group winners Mumbai Rose (Zoustar) and Jazz Etude (I Am Invincible) and stakes-placed fillies Mumbai Jewel (I Am Invincible) and Splendoronthegrass (So You Think {NZ}).
Bengal as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bengal’s second dam is the Storm Boot (USA) mare Mani Bhavani (USA), she was a star on the track and won the G1 Saratoga Spinaway S., as a broodmare she ended up leaving four winners with the best of them being Petrelle, a stakes-placed daughter of Fastnet Rock.
Mumbai Rock since producing Bengal has an I Am Invincible yearling half-sister, a Home Affairs weanling half-brother and was again served by Australia's Champion Sire I Am Invincible last spring.
Bengal was a $250,000 purchase by China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy from the draft of Morning Rise Stud at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 6pm AEDT, Ranvet H., $60,000, 1100m
Silmarillion, 2-year-old filly (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Yavanna {Redoute’s Choice})
The well-related Silmarillion is set to debut over 1100 metres for Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings on the back of a trial second placing at Warwick Farm on February 12 when running over 819 metres.
Silmarillion is a daughter of Darley’s exciting young sire Too Darn Hot (GB) and is the eighth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Yavanna. She had two wins on the track prior to forging a very successful broodmare career.
Yavanna has left two Group winners at stud including the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Kementari (Lonhro) and the Westbury Stud-based stallion Telperion - a son of Street Cry (Ire) - who won the ATC Lonhro Plate. Adding to her fine record are the stakes-placed duo Valaquenta (Street Boss {USA}) and Palurien (Reset).
Too Darn Hot (GB) | Standing at Darley
Silmarillion’s second dam is the Loup Sauvage (USA) mare Wild Queen, she was successful on the track winning 10 races with five of them being in stakes races. She has also been a stakes producer with Varda (Lonhro) winning the Listed BRC Chief de Beers H.
Yavanna since producing Silmarillion has a Pinatubo (Ire) weanling half-sister and was served again by Too Darn Hot last spring.
Canberra, Race 2, 1.56pm AEDT, Kennards Hire Plate, $22,000, 1000m
Picksix, 3-year-old gelding (Capitalist x Roeinda {Lonhro})
Warwick Farm trainer Bryce Heys takes the wraps off this Capitalist gelding who has been patiently handled and educated. He most recently has had two unplaced trials at Warwick Farm in the last month.
Picksix made his first appearance in public when he was offered by Willow Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where his trainer signed the ticket at $220,000.
Picksix as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
By Capitalist, the gelding is the third foal out of Roeinda (Lonhro), a two-time winning and stakes-placed mare from the extended family of the three-time Group 1 winner Defier (Dehere {USA}). Other stakes performing fillies in the family are Traveston Girl (Flying Spur) and Salimar (Marscay).
Unfortunately, Roeinda has not had a lot of luck since producing Picksix and has been unable to produce a live foal since. Hopefully Picksix can start his career in fine fashion and become a winner alongside his winning half-sister Sassy Choice (Choisir).
Looking back
At Wyong on Thursday, Khaznah (Zoustar) jumped well and dictated the pace but unfortunately couldn’t match motors with a pair of fast finishers - she boxed on for third. Meanwhile, Infinity Imperial (Zoustar) was unplaced in Race 1 at Sportsbet-Pakenham and will will have to wait for another day to see Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) as she was scratched from Race 3.
