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 early in its career, 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 Saturday, including a well-bred Too Darn Hot (GB) colt chasing a maiden stakes victory at Royal Randwick, and nicely related progeny of Written Tycoon and Dundeel (NZ) looking for a deserved maiden win after performing well in their career so far.
Newcastle, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, Jeannie & Danny’s 50th Birthday Mdn P., $42,000, 1300m
Media World, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Meryl {Epaulette})
The well-bred Media World is set to make his third start over 1300 metres for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden at Newcastle. In his first campaign he ran a very creditable fifth in Listed company at Caulfield on December 2 over 1000 metres and at his last start he battled on well to place third at Newcastle over 1200 metres.
Media World as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Media World is a son of Yulong Stud’s star stallion Written Tycoon and is out of the Epaulette mare Meryl. She was a two-time winner at 1200 metres including the G3 BJ McLachlan S., and the G3 Scarborough S. She comes from a solid family being a half-sister to two Listed stakes placegetters in Chosen Idol - Golden Idol (Mac) (Choisir) and Miss Idyllic (Exceed And Excel).
Meryl, since producing Media World, has left a yearling colt by Capitalist, a filly foal by Pierata and was most recently served by Pierro last spring.
Media World was an expensive purchase at the sales costing Yu Long Investments $1,400,000 at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Fairview Park Stud.
Newcastle, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, Jeannie & Danny’s 50th Birthday Mdn P., $42,000, 1300m
It’s A Wonder, 3-year-old filly (Dundeel {NZ} x Allez Wonder {Redoute’s Choice})
Bred by Encompass International, this filly made $350,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was bought from the Vinery Stud draft by Bill and Dianne Ouston.
It’s A Wonder is out of the 2009 G1 Toorak H. victress Allez Wonder, making the filly a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Kooweerup (More Than Ready {USA}) and the stakes performer Prompt Prodigy (More Than Ready {USA}). Allez Wonder herself is a half-sister to the Group 3 scorer Pretty Pins (NZ) (Pins).
It’s A Wonder as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Her grandam, Luna Tudor (Military Plume {NZ}), notched ten wins and was victorious in the G2 Perth Cup in 2000. Further back in the family is the Waikato Stud based sire and the G1 All Aged S., winner in Tivaci.
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained filly has raced the three times and most recently ran third at Canterbury over 1250 metres behind the promising Llanddwyn (Deep Field).
Royal Randwick, Race 3, 12.25pm AEDT, G3 Widden Kindergarten S., $250,000, 1100m
Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) , 2-year-old colt (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Rosa Carolina {NZ} {Savabeel})
Hezdarnhottoo (NZ), a son of Darley Stud’s shuttling stallion Too Darn Hot (GB), will make his stakes debut at Randwick for Bjorn Baker on Wednesday. This comes on the back of a placing on debut and an impressive all-the-way win on the Randwick-Kensington track on March 27 over 1100 metres.
Hezdarnhottoo is the third foal from the Savabeel mare Rosa Carolina (NZ), who was a three time winner and also Listed-placed in the South Pacific Classic at Randwick. She has so far produced two winners including Sinister Sauce (The Autumn Sun) and Diva Carolina (Tivaci).
Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Rosa Carolina’s dam is the three-time Listed winner and Group 1-placed mare Ombre Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) she has been a very handy broodmare leaving three individual stakes-placed progeny in Rosa Carolina, Court Order (NZ) (Pins) and Room For Excuse (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}).
Hezdarnhottoo was a NZ$170,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Elsdon Park at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Our selections for Friday: Bangalow Road (Toronado {Ire}) ran fifth at Cranbourne in race 3, Amaretto Sour (The Autumn Sun) ran 10th at Benalla in race 3.
