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 chasing maiden success, 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 runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Thursday. We have a beautifully bred I Am Invincible 3-year-old gelding looking for success at Wyong. Also we have a Saxon Warrior (Jpn) 2-year-old looking to win his maiden at Pakenham after a very good run on debut and a promising potential stayer by Justify (USA) that looks close to a win.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 1, 5.15pm AEDT, Campbell Constructions 2YO Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Signor Bill, 2-year-old gelding (Saxon Warrior {Jpn} x Zuccotto {Quest For Fame {GB}})
Bred and owned by O P Tait and Mrs J G Nivision , Signor Bill is a gelding by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) out of the mare Zuccotto (Quest For Fame {GB})
Zuccotto has made a promising start to her broodmare career having already left two-individual winners in Smart As Smart (Smart Missile) and Alchermes (Excelebration {Ire}).
Saxon Warrior (Jpn) | Standing at Coolmore
The family page is a little quiet up close but back a bit further it is full of class, her great-grandam Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}), was a star on the track and was successful in the G1 One Thousand Guineas. She then surpassed her race record in the breeding barn leaving nine individual winners, including three stakes-winners.
Of these the clear headliner was the Champion stayer Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}) who was successful in twenty one races including thirteen Group 1 races. The other stakes-winners were the Listed winners Dream Ballad (Singspiel {Ire}) and Hood (Shamardal {USA})
The Patrick Payne-trained gelding has raced the once placing second at Sandown over 1300 metres behind the very exciting Epimeles (Dundeel {NZ}) who looks a potential stakes horse of the future.
Wyong, Race 4, 2.05pm AEDT, HMA Materials Handling Super Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1350m
One Command, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Fast Fleet {Fastnet Rock})
The Ciaron Maher-trained One Command (I Am Invincible) will travel to Wyong on Thursday to have his second start over 1350 metres in the hands of Dylan Gibbons. One Command ran a moderate race on debut for a fifth-placing where he faded after running on the pace behind the promising Chevron (Spieth {NZ}) who previously had run and performed well in some strong races.
This I Am Invincible gelding is the ninth foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Fast Fleet, who was a winner over 1500 metres but has been a successful broodmare leaving three individual winners. Included in her progeny is the five-time Group 1 winner in Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}), he was the Champion Sprinter in Australia in 2018-19 and his Group 1 wins included the Stradbroke H., TJ Smith S., Sir Rupert Clarke S., Goodwood H., and the Sprint Classic.
One Command | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Fast Fleet has been given every chance at stud and in recent years since producing One Command has left a two-year-old by I Am Invincible, a yearling colt by Written Tycoon, a weanling colt by Stay Inside and in the spring was served by Pinatubo (Ire)
One Command was a $500,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 4, 6.45pm AEDT, Michael Habgood Concreting Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1600m
Disco Prince, 3-year-old gelding (Justify {USA} x The Party Stand {NZ} {Thorn Park})
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Justify (USA) gelding Disco Prince will be making his second start at Pakenham on Thursday over 1600 metres. He ran a great race on debut when he was trapped wide throughout and stuck to his task well to only just miss winning on debut.
This well-bred gelding 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 three individual winners including the stakes-placed Foxwedge mare Petition, Just Party (Justify {USA}) and Tuscan Gaze (Snitzel).
Disco Prince | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This family is littered with top-level performers including the recently-retired 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}).
Disco Prince was a $380,000 purchase by Busuttin Racing/All Winners Thoroughbreds from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Etincelle (Grunt) was impressive winning at Sandown-Lakeside, he looks like he could have a promising future once he steps over a little more ground. In the 2-year-old race at Gosford The Eyes Have It (Brutal) was third and Obscure (Exceed And Excel) fourth. Both were promising runs and maiden wins should come at short notice.
