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 Wednesday. We have a beautifully bred Fastnet Rock 3-year-old filly looking for success at Geelong. Also at Newcastle we have a Zoustar 2-year-old looking to win her maiden at and a promising potential stayer by Dundeel (NZ) that looks close to a win.
Geelong, Race 2, 1.35pm AEDT, Roderick Insurance Maiden P., $37,500, 1212m
My Xanadu, 3-year-old filly (Fastnet Rock x Lights Of Heaven {NZ} {Zabeel} {NZ})
Bred and raced by Mrs J M Wanless, the well-bred My Xanadu is set to debut over 1212 metres for Pakenham trainers Peter G Moody and Katherine Coleman at Geelong on Wednesday.
My Xanadu is a daughter of Coolmore Stud’s stallion Fastnet Rock and is out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Lights Of Heaven. She was a classy eight-time winner and these wins included the G1 Schweppes Oaks, G2 Eagle Farm Cup, G2 Moonee Valley Fillies C., G2 AD Hollindale S., and the G3 Neville Sellwood S.
Fastnet Rock | Standing at Coolmore
She has already made her mark at stud leaving four-individual winners including the talented gelding He’s Heaven (Zoustar) who was successful in the Listed Oaklands P., Angel Of Heaven (Redoute’s Choice) who was successful three-times and ran second in the G3 Grand Prix S., and fourth in the G1 Queensland Oaks. Road To Heaven (High Chaparral (Ire) was a three-time winner and Lumber Dream (Snitzel) has saluted the judge six-times.
Lights Of Heaven, since producing My Xanadu, has left a two-year-old filly by The Autumn Sun, yearling and weanling colt’s by So You Think (NZ) and was most recently served by Wootton Bassett (GB) last spring.
Newcastle, Race 1, 12.50pm AEDT, Living Turf Maiden P., $42,000, 1890m
Royal Standard, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel {NZ} x Darousha {Fr} {Redoute’s Choice})
The well-bred Royal Standard, is set to make his fourth start over 1890 metres for Darley Australia’s head trainer James Cummings at Newcastle on Wednesday. He has run in the top four at all of his starts and the step up in trip looks ideal for this gelding.
Royal Standard is by Arrowfields classy stallion in Dundeel (NZ) and has a very strong international pedigree with his pedigree full of influential stallions including High Chaparral (Ire), Zabeel (NZ), Selkirk (USA), Night Shift (USA) and Sadler’s Wells (USA).
Royal Standard is the third foal from Darousha (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice). She was unraced on the track but has a very classy pedigree behind her being a half-sister to five individual stakes winners and also out of Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk {USA}) who was successful in the G1 Hong Kong Vase.
Royal Standard as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Darousha’s stakes winning half-siblings include the G1 Prix Ganay winning Shamardal {USA} colt Dariyan (Fr), Group 2 winners Devamani (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Darkaniya (Fr) {Frankel {GB}), as well as Listed victors Dariyza (Fr) {Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Darabad (Fr) (Dansili {GB}).
Darousha since producing Royal Standard has left a 2-year-old unraced colt by Dundeel named Neptune Legend, a yearling filly by Dundeel and a Maurice (Jpn) weanling colt. She has since been exported to France in January.
Royal Standard sold for $300,000 at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with Godolphin Australia being the successful purchaser from the draft of Arrowfield Stud.
Newcastle, Race 2, 1.25pm AEDT, Hungerford Hill Wines Maiden H., $42,000, 900m
Zoubaby, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Magnaflight {Magnus})
The promising Zoubaby (Zoustar), is set to make her debut over 900 metres for Rosehill trainers Richard and Will Freedman at Newcastle on Wednesday. She has trialled well in preparation winning two out of her four trials.
Zoubaby is the first foal from Magnaflight (Magnus). She was a winner at 1200 metres and is out of the five-time winner Snow Flight (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) who produced the talented sprinter Viddora (I Am Invincible), she won nine times on the track including the G1 AJ Moir S., and the G1 Winterbottom S.
Zoubaby | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Magnaflight since producing Zoubaby has left a yearling filly by Ole Kirk, a weanling filly by Hellbent and was most recently served in the spring by Extreme Choice.
Zoubaby was a $300,000 purchase by Avenue Bloodstock/Richard and Will Freedman from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Mrs Supergrass (I Am Invincible) was super impressive winning at Sale, Captain Electric (NZ) (Savabeel) run a battling fourth after being trapped wide throughout.
