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 at Matamata and Pakenham on Thursday, including a Savabeel colt and two well-bred runners going against each other at Pakenham.
Matamata, Race 4, 11.57am AEDT (1.57pm local) Congrats Captured By Love and Te Akau Racing Mdn 2YO, $18,500, 1200m
Altari (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Savabeel x Bohemian Lily {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Altari (NZ) will debut on his hometrack Matamata on Thursday over 1200 metres after winning a trial at Tauranga on February 20.
The promising colt is the fourth foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Bohemian Lily (NZ), who was a three-time winner including the G2 BRC The Roses S.
At stud, Bohemian Lily has left the stakes-placed Contributer (Ire) filly Lily’s Lady (NZ). This family has plenty of depth and amongst Bohemian Lily’s siblings who include the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Shamrocker (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), the G1 Auckland Cup winner Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) and yet another Group winner in Vernanme (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Altari (NZ) as a weanling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Since producing Altari, Bohemian Lily has produced a Savabeel weanling filly and she was most recently served by Alabama Express.
Altari was a NZ$360,000 purchase by Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ), from the draft of Valachi Downs at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 3, 6.45pm AEDT, RW Advisory Group Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1600m
Voracious, 3-year-old gelding (Maurice {Jpn} x Seven Year Itch {Keltrice})
Voracious, a gelded son of Arrowfield Stud’s star shuttling stallion Maurice (Jpn), will make his second start at Pakenham for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr after a brave on-speed effort for third on debut.
This Maurice gelding is the ninth foal from the Keltrice mare Seven Year Itch, who was placed on the track. She is the producer of six winners including stakes winners Rich Itch (Danerich) and Scratchy Lass (U S Ranger {USA}) and the stakes-placed Ausbred Flirt (Maurice {Jpn}).
Voracious as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Honor Grades (USA) mare Love To Honor (NZ) features in the pedigree as the second dam, she was Listed-placed on the track and also is a half-sister to the G1 Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup-winning gelding Viewed (Scenic {Ire}).
Voracious has been busy at the sales, initially selling for $200,000 from the Rangal Park Stud draft with the buyer being Shrone Bloodstock/Silverdale Farm at the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale. Silverdale Farm then successfully put him through their draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where he sold to Yes Bloodstock Pty Ltd for $500,000.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 3, 6.45pm AEDT, RW Advisory Group Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1600m
Sinhalese, 3-year-old gelding (Almanzor {Fr} x Ceylon {NZ} {Cape Blanco {Ire}})
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Sinhalese will travel to Pakenham on Thursday to make his debut over 1600 metres after running sixth in a trial at Cranbourne on February 5.
With staying bloodlines, the gelding is the second foal from the Cape Blanco (Ire) mare Ceylon (NZ), who was a five-time winner and placed fourth in the G3 Epona S,. Ceylon is the dam of the Tavistock (NZ) winning filly Kandyan (NZ).
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Being by the G1 Chantilly Prix du Jockey Club winner in Almanzor (Fr) and with broodmare sires the likes of Cape Blanco, Fastnet Rock, Zabeel (NZ) and Secretariat (USA) featuring in the pedigree, it suggests that staying will be his game and even further than the 1600 metres that he runs over on Thursday will be of benefit.
Since producing Sinhalese, Ceylon has produced an as yet-to-race Toronado (Ire) 2-year-old filly.
Looking Back
Velozes (I Am Invincible) stormed home to finish second in Race 4 at Doomben on Wednesday delivering the best result of our selections. Peschiera (I Am Invincible) finished sixth in Race 1 at Rosehill while Paruna (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was unfortunately last home.
