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.
Two promising runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Sunday, including an American Pharoah (USA) colt having his second start at Tamworth and a well-bred Dundeel (NZ) gelding having his second start on the Sunshine Coast Poly Track.
Tamworth, Race 2, 1.35pm AEDT, Courthouse Hotel Super Mdn Showcase H., $50,000, 1400m
Luskaire, 3-year-old colt (American Pharoah {USA} x Milsean {NZ} {Tavistock {NZ}})
The well-related Luskaire is set to have his second start for Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan on the back of a promising second-placing on debut at Newcastle on February 26 over 1200 metres.
Luskaire is a son of Coolmore Stud’s shuttling sire American Pharoah and is the first foal from the Tavistock (NZ) mare Milsean (NZ). She was a talented filly on the track and saluted the judge four times including being placed in the G1 New Zealand Oaks as well as three other stakes placings. She is also bred on the same successful cross of Cambridge Stud’s former stallions in Tavistock and Zabeel (NZ).
Luskaire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Milsean comes from a very strong female family and has three full siblings that were Group winners. Toffee Tongue (Tavistock {NZ}) who was victorious in the G1 Australasian Oaks and Werther (Tavistock {NZ}) the Hong Kong Horse of the Year and the winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup and the G1 Champions & Chater Cup and Gobstopper (Tavistock {NZ}) the G3 New Zealand Cup winner.
Milsean since producing Luskaire has left Krulisa (American Pharoah {USA}), a Wootton Bassett (GB) yearling colt and was served by State Of Rest (Ire) last spring.
Sunshine Coast Poly Track, Race 4, 3.10pm AEDT (2.10pm local), Kal’s Construction Mdn H., $30,000, 1600m
Divakara, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel {NZ} x Moone’s My Name {GB} {Intikhab {USA}})
The Stuart Kendrick-trained Divakara will travel to the Sunshine Coast on Sunday to have his second start over 1600 metres after running a very promising fifth on debut at Eagle Farm where he was running on strongly at the end of the race.
The staying bred gelding is the third foal from the Intkhab (USA) mare Moone’s My Name (GB), who was an eight-time winner including the Listed Santa Anita American Beauty S.
Divakara as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Divakara was purchased by TFI and Kia Ora Stud for $280,000 from the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Newhaven Park.
Since producing Divakara, Moone’s My Name has produced a yet-to-race Too Darn Hot (GB) 2-year-old gelding named Moonshot. Unfortunately, Moone’s My Name passed away in September last year.
Looking Back
Our Saturday selections fared okay. Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}) put in a bold run to be denied on the line in the G2 Reisling S. for a second-place finish at Randwick. Ad Astra (Tassort) was another narrowly denied for a second-placing in Race 4 at Muray Bridge, while Wizards (Fastnet Rock) finished sixth in Race 4 at Hawkesbury.
