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 exciting runners are set to hit the track at Canterbury Park on Wednesday, including a well bred expensive Snitzel 2-year-old, and Savabeel and Zoustar 3-year-old’s looking to cap off consistent form with maiden success.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 12.50pm AEDT, Hyland Race Colours H., $100,000, 1550m
Glebe (NZ) 3-year-old filly (Savabeel x Glee {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The well-bred Glebe (NZ) is set to have her fourth start over 1550 metres for Chris Waller on the back of three solid runs in her career so far, including a close-up third at Kembla Grange last time out over 1400 metres,
Glebe is a daughter of Waikato Stud’s Champion sire Savabeel and is the second foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Glee. She only raced once on the track, but has become a successful broodmare leaving two individual winners. These include the G3 Matamata Slipper winner in Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) and the two-time winning filly Bellano (NZ) (Savabeel).
Glebe (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
A recent major update for this well-bred filly is that Glee is a full-sister to Symphonic (NZ) (Savabeel). She was Group 3-placed in the Cuddle S., but also is the dam of the outstanding filly Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel). Orchestral has had an outstanding season winning the Karaka Millions 3YO Classic, G2 Avondale Guineas, G1 NZ Derby and the G1 Vinery S., and on the weekend ran a gallant race in the G1 Australian Oaks, placing third.
Further back in the family are the Group 1 winners in Aegeon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) and Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}).
Glebe sold for $140,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale with Mulcaster Bloodstock/Chris Waller Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Waikato Stud.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 1.25pm AEDT, Schweppes H., $60,000, 1250m
Canara, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Karavali (NZ) {Nadeem})
Canara is a daughter of Australia’s current Champion sire in I Am Invincible and is out of Karavali (NZ) (Nadeem). She was a five-time winner in New Zealand and Australia and her wins included Group 3 success in the Aspiration H. Karavali is also a full sister to the Listed Wellesley S. winner in Sir Nate (Nadeem).
It looks like a strong form line for this Chris Waller-trained filly who at her first start ran on strongly in a Rosehill 1100-metre contest - finishing second behind the two-time winner and stakes performed Spywire (Trapeze Artist). To add to her form she then ran third at her her second start, also at Rosehill, behind Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) and Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) with these two colts both subsequently becoming Group winners and then running third and fourth respectively in the G1 Golden Slipper. At her last start Canara ran very well from well back in the field to finish fourth at Warwick Farm.
Canara as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Karavali, since producing Canara, has left a Dundeel (NZ) filly foal and was not served last spring.
Canara was a $410,000 purchase by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the draft of Amarina Farm from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Canterbury Park, Race 3, 2pm AEDT, James Squire H., $60,000, 1250m
Imperial Force, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Ultimate Fever {Gold Fever {USA}})
The Chris Waller-trained Snitzel colt Imperial Force will have his second start at Canterbury on Wednesday over 1250 metres after running well on debut at Warwick Farm on March 27 over 1100 metres.
This colt is bred on a pattern that is already proven, Snitzel seems to click well when mated with the Gold Fever (USA) mare Ultimate Fever, she was also handy as a racehorse and was a winner as a juvenile of the Listed Gosford Slipper.
Imperial Force as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has been very successful at stud leaving four individual winners including Sprightly Lass (Snitzel) who was victorious in the G3 DC McKay S., and the Listed Bel Esprit S. and Le Cordon Bleu (Snitzel) who won the Listed Canterbury Classic. Other winners are Warmth (Hinchinbrook), Red Hot De Lago (Encosta De Lago) and the Group-placed Stratosphere, who now stands at Grenville Stud in Tasmania.
Imperial Force was a $1,600,000 purchase by Coolmore Australia from the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
A good day at the office for our selections - In Summer (The Autumn Sun) was impressive winning with a tidy front-running performance from a wide barrier, Vanishing (I Am Invincible) won comfortably after showing a fine turn of foot to win with ease and Nakoa (USA) (War Front {USA}) will keep for another day as she was scratched.
