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 Friday, including two Written Tycoon colt's that look ready for maiden success and an Alabama Express filly that run well on debut and looks ready to win her maiden.
Bet365 Geelong, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Bet365 Mdn P., $27,000, 1212m
Earth God, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Miss Antaeus {I Am Invincible})
Earth God, a son of Yulong Stud’s super stallion Written Tycoon, will be making his second start at Geelong for Mornington trainer’s Anthony and Sam Freedman. After winning his most recent trial at Tatura on May 24 in impressive fashion by 5l he then ran a solid third on debut at Caulfield on June 1 behind the promising Interest Point (Blue Point {Ire}) when showing good speed throughout.
The well-bred colt is the fourth foal from the I Am Invincible mare Miss Antaeus, who was a winner as a juvenile and placed in the Listed Woodland S.
Earth God as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Miss Antaeus’s dam Crestfallen (Rivotious {USA}) was a seven-time winner and was stakes-placed in the G3 Qld Tatt’s Winter S., Listed Glenlogan Park S., Listed Silk Stocking H., Listed Birthday Card H., and the Listed Dark Jewel Classic. She has also been successful as a broodmare leaving six winners.
Other top class performers feature in this pedigree include Testashadow (Testa Rossa), Spaceboy (Deep Field), Dusty Star (General Nediym), Emperor Of The Sun (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Australia’s super stallion Zoustar.
Miss Antaeus since producing Earth God has left a Bivouac weanling colt and was served by Too Darn Hot (GB) last spring.
Earth God was a $520,000 purchase by Yu Long Investments from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Bet365 Geelong, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Rex Gorell Volkswagen Mdn P., $27,000, 1312m
Treasurethe Moment, 2-year-old filly (Alabama Express x Draconic Treasure (USA) {Street Cry {Ire})
Geelong’s Friday meeting will serve as the venue for the second start for the Matt Laurie trained and Yu Long Investments bred and owned filly Treasurethe Moment. On debut also at Geelong she ran a very good second when she stretched out well late in the run behind Oodnadatta (Too Darn Hot {GB}) over 1200 metres on June 6.
Treasurethe Moment is by Yulong Stud’s sire in Alabama Express and she has a strong international pedigree with her page full of influential stallions including Redoute’s Choice, Encosta De Lago, Mr Prospector (USA) and Street Cry (Ire), Sadler’s Wells (USA) and Invincible Spirit (Ire).
Alabama Express | Standing at Yulong
Her dam Draconic Treasure (USA) was a winner in America. She has left one winner so far which is Mihoko Takeo (Grunt) who has been a winner at 1150 metres.
Deeper into the pedigree are some true stars of the turf including Rich Tapestry (Ire) who won the G1 Sprint Championship S., Media Puzzle (USA) (Theatrical {Ire}) who was the G1 Melbourne Cup victor and Refuse To Bend (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) who was the Champion Miler in Ireland and a four-time Group 1 winner.
Goulburn, Race 7, 3.40pm, AEST, Brad Writer Constructions Mdn P., $27,000, 1300m
Shelstein, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Sylvia’s Mother {Snitzel})
The Annabel Neasham-trained Written Tycoon colt Shelstein will be making his second start at Goulburn on Friday over 1300 metres. Before making his debut he trialled up very smartly at Rosehill on May 17 when winning over 1030 metres, that day he narrowly beat the well-bred Shanwah (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and third was Mellifluent (Exceed And Excel) who previously won on debut at Canterbury in February.
On debut he then ran a solid close-up fourth on the same track and over the same distance that he races over today behind the exciting colt Depth Of Character (Deep Field) who has since placed in Listed company at Eagle Farm behind the unbeaten Megastar Heart (Star Turn).
This well-bred colt is the first foal out of the Snitzel mare Sylvia’s Mother, who was a seven-time winner including the G3 Frances Tressady S., and the G3 Geoffrey Belmaine S.
Shelstein as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This family has some top-level performers a bit further back including Drop Anchor (At Talaq {USA}), the Group 1 winning mare Bel Mer (Bel Esprit), All Too Royal (All Too Hard), Ken Arok (Bel Esprit), Marine Park (Sir Dapper) and Generosity (Divine Prophet).
Sylvia Mother’s further progeny include a yearling colt by Wootton Bassett (GB), a weanling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and in the spring was most recently served by Coolmore Stud’s Home Affairs.
Shelstein was a $550,000 purchase by TFI/Kia Ora Stud/Annabel Neasham Racing from the draft of Berkeley Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Levar (I Am Invincible) won very impressively at Gatton, he looks like he will race in much stronger company than he did here.
Vinniro (I Am Invincible) was fifth at Kembla Grange, he ran a solid race again.
Fair Maiden (I Am Invincible) was scratched from her race, she will keep.
