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 Saturday, including a promising Street Boss (USA) filly that looks ready for a stakes win at Scone, a Churchill (Ire) colt with some good form chasing maiden success at Flemington and a Snitzel colt with his sights on Group success at Flemington.
Scone, Race 3, 12.15pm AEST, Listed Arrowfield Woodland S., $200,000, 1100m
Toque, 2-year-old filly (Street Boss (USA) x Gorgons {Exceed And Excel})
It's a great form line for this Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly who is hunting for her first stakes-success at start number three. At her first start she ran third at Listed grade at Gosford behind the talented runners Highness (Snitzel) and Spywire (Trapeze Artist), These two colts then went on to finish in the placings of the RL Gold Coast Magic Millions C.
Then at Toque's second-start she won impressively at Canterbury winning by 2.89 lengths beating Mr Artemisia (The Autumn Sun) and Justice Warrior (Justify {USA}). These two colts have since both run second at their next starts to add to the form.
Toque as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds were the purchasers for $200,000 at last year's Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale from the draft of A List Stud Pty Ltd.
Toque is by Street Boss (USA) out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Gorgons. Her grandam Euryales (Lonhro) was a five-time including the Listed Gibson Carmichael S. Other handy stakes performers in the pedigree are the super quick young-stallion Profiteer, the Group 1 winner Danglissa (Danehill {USA}) and the Group 3 winner Sweet Redemption (Snitzel).
Since producing Toque, Gorgons has unfortunately missed twice to Vinery Stud’s young sire Ole Kirk and was most recently served in the spring by Outreach.
Flemington, Race 1, 11.35am, AEST, Sir Eugene Gorman H., $150,000, 1400m
Narbold, 2-year-old colt (Churchill {Ire} x Noblest {GB} {Pivotal {GB})
The well-bred Narbold (Churchill {Ire}), is set to have his third start over 1400 metres for Flemington trainer Chris Waller at Flemington on Saturday.
In his previous two runs Narbold performed well, he ran third on debut behind the progressive colt Snack Bar (Frosted {USA}) at Ballarat and then run second in Listed company at Flemington over 1400 metres behind Epimeles (Dundeel {NZ}) and beating the promising New Zealand colt Yaldi (NZ) (Ardrossan).
Churchill (Ire) | Standing at Coolmore
Narbold is by Coolmore Stud’s shuttling stallion in Churchill and has a strong international pedigree with his pedigree full of influential stallions including Pivotal (GB), Dancing Brave (USA), Galileo (Ire) and Storm Cat (USA). Further back in the family are the Group winners Ladyship (Oasis Dream {GB}), Audience (Iffraaj {GB}) and Dark Lady (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Narbold is the third foal from Noblest. She was a winner over seven furlongs in Great Britain on the track and has a very classy pedigree behind her. She is a full-sister Peeress (Pivotal) who was the Champion Older Female Miler in Great Britain and Ireland and her seven-wins included the G1 Sun Chariot S., and the G1 Lockinge Stakes G1.
Noblest since producing Narbold has left a yearling filly by Starspangledbanner and was also most recently served by him again last spring.
Doomben, Race 6, 2.43pm, AEST, Group 2 Spirit Of Boom C., $300,000, 1200m
Bittercreek, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Rose Of Cimmaron {Bite The Bullet {USA}})
The well-related Bittercreek is set to have his third start in Saturday’s G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic, at Doomben for Leon and Troy Corstens. In his first two races he has run two placings in stakes company and looks ready for a deserved win.
Bittercreek is a son of Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Snitzel and is the eighth foal from the Bite The Bullet (USA) mare Rose Of Cimmaron. She won twice, but from her six foals to race, five have been winners, including the Group 3 winners Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) and Bull Point.
Bittercreek as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Both Siege Of Quebec and Bull Point were high-priced yearlings. The former achieved $1.2 million at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while the latter made $960,000 when sold at the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bittercreek is also related to the multiple Group 1 winner Criterion (NZ) and his Group 1-winning half-brother Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock). Further down the page is the flying mare Najoom (Northern Meteor), the dam of the brilliant filly Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) and her Listed-winning full sister Najmaty.
Rose Of Cimmaron hasn’t had a live foal since Bittercreek but was served by Capitalist last spring.
Bittercreek was a $375,000 yearling purchase by Malua Bloodstock and Baystone Farm from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Baystone Farm reoffered the colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale, where he passed in with the reserve set at $750,000.
Looking Back:
Conspirator (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) won nicely at Scone, he had a lovely trip and was strong late.
Fontaine Rouge (Justify {USA}) ran well, she hit the line well late to run a very good third, more distance is only going to be of assistance.
Kirin (So You Think {NZ}) crossed over from his wide and led all the way to win impressively. He has plenty of talent and is one to watch.
