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 and New Zealand on Saturday, including a Tarzino (NZ) 2-year-old debutant, a smart Almanzor (Fr) trial winner and a well bred Showtime gelding making his debut at Morphettville.
Wingatui, Race 1, 10am AEDT (12pm local), Dakota Boutique + Lifestyle 2YO, $40,000, 820m
Nucleozor (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Almanzor {Fr} x Nucleonic {NZ} {Burgundy {NZ}})
The well-bred Nucleozor (NZ) is set to make his debut over the short course of 820 metres for Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Wingatui, on the back of a very promising trial performance at Riccarton on February 23 over 800 metres.
Nucleozor is a son of Cambridge Stud’s sire Almanzor and is the third foal from Nucleonic (NZ). She was a two-time winner on the track and is a half-sister to Tijuana (American Pharoah {USA}) who was successful in the G2 MVRC Bill Stutt S., as well as the stakes-placed Mexican Tycoon (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Nucleozor was bred and is raced by Te Akau Stud and Westonlea Bloodstock, they have had a lot of success with this family and this 2-year-old colt looks like adding to the family record. Adding to this, Nucleozor’s full sister Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) could do that also on Saturday and is one of the favourites for the G3 ARC McKee Family Sunline Vase at Ellerslie.
Eagle Farm, Race 1, 1.13pm AEDT (12.13pm local), Stradbroke Season On Sale Now QTIS 2YO H., $85,000, 1300m
Wowzino (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Tarzino {NZ} x Walk On Water {GB} {Exceed And Excel})
The David Vandyke-trained Wowzino (NZ) will debut at Eagle Farm on Saturday over 1300 metres after two unplaced trials leading up to this debut performance.
This Tarzino colt is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Walk On Water (GB), who was a two-time winner as a juvenile in Great Britain.
Wowzino (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Walk On Water is a half-sister to the talented Tavistock (NZ) filly Tavy (NZ), she was successful in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial as a 3-year-old at Ellerslie. Since producing Wowzino, she has produced a Saville Row (NZ) colt foal and she was most recently served by Sweynesse.
Wowzino was a NZ$150,000 purchase by Rick Connolley Bloodstock from the draft of Landsdowne Park Ltd at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Morphettville, Race 1, 12.57pm AEDT (12.27pm local), Thomas Farms H., $55,000, 1000m
Spotlights, 2-year-old gelding (Showtime x Moonlight Hussey {Hussonet {USA}})
Spotlights, a son of Arrowfield Stud’s Showtime, will make his debut at Morphettville for Michael Hickmott on Saturday.
Spotlights is the eighth and last foal from the Hussonet (USA) mare Moonlight Hussey, who was a winner as a juvenile and also Listed-placed twice. Moonlight Hussey’s dam is the stakes winner Lunaspur (Flying Spur) and is also a full sister to the very talented G2 Phar Lap S. winner in Colorado Claire (Hussonet {USA}).
Spotlights as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Other successful members of this family include the Group winners Gunnison (Not A Single Doubt), Moonovermanhattan (Manhattan Rain) and Selenia (Not A Single Doubt).
Spotlights was a $100,000 purchase by Michael Hickmott Bloodstock and Andrew Campbell Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Our selections for Friday fared okay. Reluctance (Not A Single Doubt) shed his maiden tag comfortably at Goulburn. At Moonee Valley, Sky Cap (Capitalist) ran a nice second place in Race 1, while Eject (Street Boss {USA}) failed to figure in the placings.
