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 New Zealand and Australia on Saturday, including a well-bred Reliable Man (GB) filly chasing maiden success at Ruakaka, a Snitzel two-year-old colt that has solid form looking for his debut win at Flemington and an I Am Invincible gelding looking to win his maiden at his third start.
Ruakaka, Race 6, 2.32pm, AEST (12.32pm local), Marsden Metals Group 3Y0 SW+P., $35,000, 1400m
Bound To Be (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Reliable Man {GB} x Bonaichi {Fusaichi Pegasus {USA})
Ruakaka’s Saturday meeting will serve as the venue for the third start for Bound To Be (NZ), a well-bred daughter of Reliable Man (GB) from the Kylie Hoskin stable at Byerley Park.
Bound To Be is the tenth live foal out of the talented mare Bonaichi (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), she was successful in the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie. Bonaichi as a broodmare so far has produced four winners including Extra Choice (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) who was successful three times including the Listed Geelong C., over 2200 metres. Her other winners are Ashrama (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Novashow (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and Quick Choice (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
Reliable Man (GB) | Standing at Westbury Stud
Bonaichi herself is a half-sister to Prima Nova (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) she was a five-time winner including the Listed Japan Racing Association P., and the Listed Belle Of The Turf P. The family pedigree has even more depth as Bonaichi’s dam Bonanova (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) was victorious eight-times including in the G1 Emirates S., G2 Hardy Brothers C., G3 Tatt’s Winter S (twice)., G3 Tristarc S., and the Listed Wiggle H.
Flemington, Race 1, 11.50am, AEST, RDA Peninsula Jenny Stidston Sprint, $150,000, 1200m
Markdel, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Princess Noir {Jpn} {Neo Universe {Jpn})
The well-bred Markdel is set to have his fourth start over 1200 metres for Flemington trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman on his home track on Saturday. His formlines look strong for a maiden race, he ran third on debut at Geelong behind the promising Stay Focused (Cosmic Force), ran on strongly from back in the field at Sandown at his second start, placing fourth behind Blue Renegade (Blue Point {Ire}) and was only nosed out by Grinzinger Pod (Calyx {GB}) at Bendigo last time out.
Markdel is a son of Arrowfield Stud’s star stallion Snitzel and is out of the Neo Universe (Jpn) mare Princess Noir. She was placed on the track before commencing her broodmare career in both Japan and Australia.
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield
Markdel comes from a strong female family, Princess Noir is a half-sister to Tricolore Bleu (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) who was a six-time winner including the Listed Hanshin Osaka Jo S. Other siblings Danon Gelato (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and World Impact (Deep Impact) were both stakes-placed on the track.
Adding to this, her dam is Penkenna Princess (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) she was a very talented filly winning the G3 Fred Darling S., and the Listed Oh So Sharp S., She also was classy enough to place in the G1 Irish One Thousand Guineas. As well as producing the three stakes performers mentioned previously, she has left Vasilissa (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) who became famous for producing Tagaloa who was victorious in the G1 Blue Diamond S., before retiring to Yulong Stud in Victoria.
Princess Noir, since producing Markdel, has left a yearling colt by The Autumn Sun and was most recently served by him again last spring.
Markdel cost Anthony Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) $320,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Arrowfield Stud.
Royal Randwick, Race 1, 10.30am, AEST, Schweppes H., $160,000, 1100m
Vinniro, 2-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Lady Cartier {Fastnet Rock})
It's a solid form line for this Peter and Paul Snowden trained gelding who at his first start ran fourth behind the stakes-placed Spywire (Trapeze Artist) and Canara (I Am Invincible). At his second start he ran fifth behind the boom-colt Storm Boy (Justify {USA}), Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) and Canara (I Am Invincible) which even though he was beaten a fair way, it is a strong formline. This preparation he has trialled up well and won his most recent trial at Rosehill impressively on May 16 over 1045 metres.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park
Vinniro is by I Am Invincible out of Lady Cartier (Fastnet Rock) who is a three-quarter-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and the Listed winning gelding Groundswell (Fastnet Rock). She is also a half-sister to the talented gelding Rustic Steel (Deep Field) who has been successful nine-times including the G3 Newcastle Newmarket H., and the Listed Scone Cup.
Other classy performers that feature in this pedigree are the stallions Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Echoes Of Heaven and Platinum Scissors.
Capri Racing and Syndications were the purchasers for $155,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Tyreel Stud.
Looking Back:
Nebuchadnezzar (NZ) (Rageese) and Poroto (NZ) (Written Tycoon) both ran great races in Race 1 at Swan Hill finishing second and third respectively. The both look like they have their fair share of talent.
Miss Altair (Capitalist) was scratched from her race, she will keep for another day.
