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 race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, including a stakes-performed Too Darn Hot (GB) and a Pierata filly that are battling it out and a well-related Toronado (Ire) colt related to Black Caviar debuts in another maiden.
Warwick Farm, Race 2, 12.50pm, AEST, Schweppes P., $60,000, 1100m
Silmarillion, 2-year-old filly (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Yavanna {Redoute’s Choice})
The well-related Silmarillion is set to have her fourth start for Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings on the back of a very good first racing preparation. On debut she ran a very good third placing at Canterbury on February 23 over 1100 metres, she then ran third in the G2 Reisling S., behind Erno’s Cube (Rubick) and a close-up fifth behind Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) in the G3 Baillieu H.
She has since had a break and trialled up nicely behind handy types Candlewick (Pierro) and Bengal (Zoustar), she looks ready to win first-up on Wednesday.
Too Darn Hot (GB) | Standing at Darley
Silmarillion is a daughter of Darley’s exciting young sire Too Darn Hot (GB) and is the eighth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Yavanna. She had two wins on the track prior to forging a very successful broodmare career.
Yavanna has left two Group winners at stud including the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Kementari (Lonhro) and the Westbury Stud-based stallion Telperion - a son of Street Cry (Ire) - who won the ATC Lonhro Plate. Adding to her fine record are the stakes-placed duo Valaquenta (Street Boss {USA}) and Palurien (Reset).
Silmarillion’s second dam is the Loup Sauvage (USA) mare Wild Queen, she was successful on the track winning 10 races with five of them being in stakes races. She has also been a stakes producer with Varda (Lonhro) winning the Listed BRC Chief de Beers H.
Yavanna since producing Silmarillion has produced a Pinatubo (Ire) weanling filly and was served again by Too Darn Hot last spring.
Warwick Farm, Race 2, 12.50pm, AEST, Schweppes P., $60,000, 1100m
November Air, 2-year-old filly (Pierata x Chickaletta {Redoute’s Choice})
November Air, a daughter of Yulong Stud’s promising young stallion Pierata, will have her second start at on her home track at Warwick Farm for trainer Annabel Neasham after running fourth on debut at Newcastle on July 13 when she only faded late in the piece after being in a prominent position behind Codetta (Nicconi).
The well-related filly is the third foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Chickaletta, who was unraced on the track.
November Air as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She is bred on the same Pierata/Redoute’s Choice cross as the smart juvenile Coleman (Pierata) who this season won the G3 Chairman’s S., and the Listed Debutant S., as well as placing in the G1 Golden Slipper, G3 Pago Pago S., and the G1 Sire’s Produce S.
The extended Lonhro/Redoute’s Choice cross has also had great proven success with a 78% winners to runners ratio and a solid 10% stakes winners to runners ratio. Some of the stakes-winning gallopers on the track with this cross includes the Group 1 winner Kementari, Messene, Wawail, Souchez, Generalife and Mirra Vision.
Chickaletta is well-related being a half-sister to Oak Door (Commands) who was successful six times including in the G2 Autumn S., and the G3 Sir John Monash S., and her dam is the five-time winning mare, Beyonce’s Star (Orientate {USA}) who was successful in the Listed Just Now H., and later produced five individual winners from five to race.
Chickaletta since producing November Air, has left a yearling colt by Star Turn, a weanling colt by Pierata and was most recently served last spring by Pride Of Dubai.
November Air was a $220,000 purchase by Justin Fung/Aquis Stallions/Kacy Fogden Racing from the draft of Raheen Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Warwick Farm, Race 3, 1:25pm, AEST, TAB P., $60,000, 1100m
Theblade, 2-year-old colt (Toronado {Ire} x Brigite {Casino Prince})
Theblade, a son of Swettenham Stud’s proven stallion Toronado (Ire), will be making his debut at Warwick Farm for Rosehill trainer’s Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes after showing plenty of promise at the trials. At his latest trial at Rosehill on July 23 he won nicely over 900 metres defeating Justified Heart (Justify {USA}).
The well-bred colt is the third foal from the Casino Prince mare Brigite, who was unraced on the track.
Toronado (Ire) | Standing at Swettenham Stud
She is very well-related being a sister to All Too Hard who was the Champion 3YO Colt in Australia, he won seven times including the G1 All Aged S., G1 Caulfield Guineas, G1 CF Orr S., and the G1 Futurity S. Brigite's half-sister is the Champion sprinter Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) who was the unbeaten winner of twenty-five races including fifteen Group 1 races and another half-sister to the unraced Naturale who has left the dual Group 1 winning stallion Ole Kirk and the Group 3 winning Gimmie Par (Not A Single Doubt).
Other successful stakes winners within this pedigree are Hanseatic, Semillion (Shalaa {Ire}), Arctic Flight (Flying Spur), Scandinavia (Fastnet Rock), Wilander (Exceed and Excel), Magnus and Scandinavia (Snippets).
Brigite since producing Theblade has left a yearling colt by Brutal (NZ) and was served last spring by Toronado (Ire).
Looking Back
November Air (Pierata) was scratched and elected to run at Warwick Farm instead, she is again a Looking Ahead selection, so hopefully she runs well.
The Doll (Starspangledbanner) won nicely, she was strong late and won running away.
