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 New Zealand and Australia on Wednesday. All of these runners including Tavistock (NZ) and I Am Invincible three-year-olds and a Justify (USA) two-year-old are looking to win their maiden races at their second start after making very promising debuts.
Pukekohe Park, Race 6, 2.29pm AEDT (4.49pm local) Haunui Farm 1400, $25,000 1400m
Market Square (NZ), 3-year-old colt (Tavistock {NZ} x Likeapins {NZ} {Pins})
The well-bred Market Square (NZ) is set to make his second start for Roger James and Robert Wellwood at Pukekohe Park, on the back of a very good first-up performance at Tauranga on January 2 over 1400 metres.
Market Square is a son of Cambridge Stud’s ill-fated sire Tavistock (NZ) and is the fourth foal from Likapins (Pins) . She was a talented mare and was an eleven-time winner who was also Listed placed in the Easter Cup.
Market Square (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Likeapins has already had good success as a broodmare leaving the Group placed Whiskey (NZ) - Call Me Grumpy (Mac) (Burgundy {NZ}) and the six-time winner The Good Shepherd (NZ) (Power {GB})
Some talented sprinters feature further back in the family including the Group winners Seven Schillings (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins) and the Listed winner Eight Schillings (NZ) (O’Reilly). Which further illustrates the mixture of staying and spriting blood within Market Square’s pedigree, he could be one to follow.
Doomben, Race 5, 4.54pm AEDT (3.54pm local), Magic Millions National Sale Entries Open Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1350m
Velozes, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Celestial Insight {USA} {Scat Daddy {USA}})
Doomben’s Wednesday meeting will serve as the venue for Velozes second start after charging home for second on debut on the same course over 1200 metres.
Velozes is by the Australian Champion Stallion Sire in I Am Invincible and has a strong international pedigree with her damline full of influential stallions including Scat Daddy (USA), Falstaff (USA) and Fappiano (USA).
Velozes as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Her dam was a four-time winner on the track which included being Group-placed on the track. Since producing Velozes, Celestial Insight (USA) has produced an as yet-to-race Snitzel 2-year-old filly named Dee Dee Express, a Capitalist yearling colt and a Snitzel colt in the spring, she was most recently served by Capitalist.
Velozes was a $410,000 purchase by Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)/Black Soil Bloodstock from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Wyong, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT, Envu H., $60,000, 1350m
Just Party, 2-year-old colt (Justify {USA} x The Party Stand {NZ} {Thorn Park})
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Justify (USA) colt Just Party will have his second start at Wyong on Wednesday over 1350 metres after running a very good second on debut at Newcastle on March 8 over 1300 metres.
This Justify colt is out of the Thorn Park mare The Party Stand (NZ), who was a six-time winner in New Zealand including the G1 New Zealand S. She has also been successful at stud leaving the stakes-placed Foxwedge mare Petition.
Just Party as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This family is littered with top-level performers including the Group 1 winner on both sides of the Tasman in Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante), Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) who was successful as a juvenile in the G2 Auckland TR Eclipse S. and the stakes-placed Crimson Lady (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Just Party was a $110,000 purchase by Ryan and Alexiou Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking back
Our selections for Tuesday were disappointing with Bangalow Road (Trapeze Artist) finishing fifth at Kyneton. Zouwaler (Zoustar) ran fifth and Bank Heist (GB) (Cracksman) ran eighth.
