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.
Two exciting runners are set to hit the track at Sale on Sunday, including an Exceed and Excel filly that looks close to a maiden win and an American Pharoah (USA) filly that also brings solid form to a maiden race.
Sale, Race 2, 11.55am, AEST, Ladbrokes Sale Cup on Sale Now Mdn P., $37,500, 1100m
Lowlands, 3-year-old filly (Exceed and Excel x Mandayana {Zoustar)
Sale’s Sunday meeting will serve as the venue for the third start in the career of Lowlands, a well-bred daughter of Exceed and Excel from the Ciaron Maher stable. She has placed in both of her starts to date including a good third at Ballarat on June 30 behind Diadamo (Overshare).
Lowlands is the first foal out of Mandayana (Zoustar). She was placed on the track and holds Khan (Exceed and Excel) as a half-sibling; he was successful in the Listed Breeders’ P.
Exceed And Excel | Image courtesy of Darley
Mandayana’s dam Mandawara was unraced on the track but is a three-quarter-sister to Manndawi (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) who has been stakes-placed in Australia, France and Ireland and is a half-sister to Manighar (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who was such a tough and talented racehorse winning the G1 Ranvet S., G1 BMS S., and the G1 Australian Cup.
Mandayana since producing Lowlands has left a two-year-old filly named Jasmina (Blue Point {Ire}), a Frosted yearling filly and was most recently served by Churchill (Ire) last spring.
Sale, Race 4, 1.05pm, AEST, Powered Solutions Mdn P., $37,500, 1529m
Adjanni, 3-year-old filly (American Pharoah {USA} x Hapuka (NZ) {Tavistock {NZ}})
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Adjanni will travel to Sale on Sunday to have her fourth start over 1529 metres . On debut she only narrowly got nosed out by Inevitable Award (Shamus Award) at Bendigo on February 11 before she failed at her next start on the Sandown Hillside track. She took some benefit from her break and ran well placing third at Sale when resuming on July 4.
The promising filly is by the former Coolmore Stud shuttler American Pharoah (USA) and is the first foal from the Tavistock (NZ) mare Hapuka (NZ), who was a winner at 1200 metres on the track.
Adjanni as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The family page is a little quiet up close in regards to stakes horses but has some lovely pedigree influences throughout including Montjeu (Ire), Pioneerof the Nile (USA), Storm Cat (USA), Quest For Fame (GB), Dylan Thomas (Ire), Marauding (NZ) and Unbridled (USA).
Since producing Adjanni, Hapuka has produced a yearling colt by Preferment (NZ), and she was most recently served by Brighthill Farm’s Eminent (Ire) in the spring.
Adjanni was a value purchase at only $28,000 by Busuttin Racing from the draft of Fairview Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Highway Session.
Looking Back
Lavalier (Microphone) won nicely at Kembla Grange, it was a gutsy effort and it looks like more distance could also suit.
Lutetia (Justify {USA}) didn't look like she enjoyed the wet conditions finishing a well-beaten fifth, she could bounce back quickly on a firmer track.
Comanche Miss (Castelvecchio) was disappointing finishing seventh.
