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 across Australia on Tuesday, including a promising Starspangledbanner filly that looks ready for her first win and a So You Think (NZ) debutant that has shown some solid trial form going head-to-head at Hawkesbury, and a Xtravagant (NZ) gelding that looks ready to win at Moe.
Hawkesbury, Race 4, 2.10pm, AEST, Blakes Marine 3YO Mdn H., $42,000, 1100m
She’s All It, 3-year-old filly (Starspangledbanner x Buroog {Artie Schiller {USA})
The well-bred Starspangledbanner filly She’s All It is set to have her fourth start over 1100 metres for Brad Widdup on her home track at Hawkesbury on Tuesday. She has placed in all three of her starts and looks very close to a win.
She’s All It is the second foal out of the well-bred Artie Schiller (USA) mare Buroog who was unraced on the track but is well related being a half-sister to the very exciting colt Coleman (Pierata) who this season has been victorious in the G3 Chairman’s S., and the Listed Debutant S., he has also managed placings in the G1 Golden Slipper, G1 Sires’ Produce S., and the G3 Pago Pago S.
She's All It as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Other half-siblings are Liwa (Mulaazem) who has been successful three-times including the Listed Sir Ernest-Lee Steere Classic, Listed Supremacy S., and the ten-time winning gelding Exdream (Dream Ahead {USA}).
This family has even more substance to it with other high class performers featuring such as Rothesay, Sensei, Fast Witness (Star Witness), Canny Lass (Bletchingly), Causeway Lass (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), Astute Angel (Godswalk {USA}) and Eckstein (I Am Invincible).
She’s All It was a $12,500 value purchase by Jomar Park Stud from the draft of Emirates Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Book 2 Sale.
Hawkesbury, Race 4, 2.10pm, AEST, Blakes Marine 3YO Mdn H., $42,000, 1100m
Flying Thinker, 3-year-old filly (So You Think (NZ) x Hela Flyer {Lonhro)
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Flying Thinker will travel to Hawkesbury on Tuesday to make her debut over 1100 metres. She has trialled well, placing second at her last trial on April 23 at Rosehill over 1030 metres behind the Listed winner Ghaanati (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to prepare herself for this assignment.
The promising filly is by So You Think (NZ) and is the third foal from the Lonhro mare Hela Flyer, who was a winner over 1200 metres. Her first two foals Mikki Bean (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) and Reward In Time (Reward For Effort) have both been placed on the track and are both still active as racehorses.
So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore
The family page is a little quiet up close in regards to stakes horses but Flying Thinkers grandam is Hela Dubai (Danehill {USA}), she is a full-sister to Al Maher, a three-quarter-sister to Platinum Scissors, Redoute’s Choice, Superior Sateen, Monsoon Wedding (Danehill), and a half-sister to Salameh (Secret Savings {USA}).
This is a super family and other stallions that do feature within the page are Al Maher, Hilal, Umatilla, Hurricane Sky, Manhattan Rain and Echoes Of Heaven.
Unfortunately Flying Thinker is the last foal for Hela Flyer who passed away in late 2021. Flying Thinker with the blood that she possesses has a future in the breeding shed and hopefully she can build a winning race record prior to that happening.
Moe, Race 4, 2.30pm, AEST, Crown Hotel Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1200m
Tatsu, 3-year-old gelding (Xtravagant (NZ) x Mussenden {Fastnet Rock})
The progressive Tatsu is set to have his fourth start over 1200 metres for Cranbourne trainers Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans on the back of a very good placing at Kyneton on April 27 over 1215 metres when beaten by the handy Godolphin owned filly Abstruse (Sidestep).
Tatsu is a son of Newhaven Park’s sire Xtravagant (NZ) and is the fourth foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Mussenden. She was unplaced on the track but has left two winners in Bookman (Xtravagant) who has won four-times including metropolitan wins in Melbourne and Adelaide, and So Blucky (Exosphere).
Tatsu as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Tatsu’s grandam Temple Of Peace (Jpn) (Carnegie {Ire}) was stakes-placed in France and a three-time winner from 2000 to 2900 metres. She has forged a successful broodmare career leaving six winners including the star racehorse Whobegotyou (Street Cry {Ire}). In his career he notched up ten wins including the G1 Caulfield Guineas, G1 Yalumba S., G2 Blamey S., G2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes-twice, G2 Aami Vase, G2 Bill Stutt S., and the G2 PB Lawrence S.
Tatsu sold for $45,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) being the successful purchaser from the draft of Newhaven Park.
Looking Back:
A good day for our Sunday selections with the well-bred Fitzpatrick (Snitzel) winning impresssively by 6.5 lengths on the Sunshine Coast Poly Track. Then at Mudgee, Unleeshing (Dundeel) stormed home from well back in the field to win in great fashion on debut.
