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 three-year-old runners are set to race across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday, including an American Pharoah (USA) gelding at Ruakaka on debut that has looked sharp at the trials, a Yes Yes Yes colt that has strong form and has trialled up well in preparation for his assignment at Doomben and a Written Tycoon filly that looks hard to beat at Belmont.
Ruakaka, Race 1, 10.32am, AEST (12.32pm local), The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro 3YO SW&P., $35,000, 1100m
Horrie (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (American Pharoah {USA} x Contessa Vanessa (NZ) {Bullbars})
The well-bred Horrie (NZ) is set to make his debut over 1100 metres for Pukekohe trainer’s Moira and Kieran Murdoch at Ruakaka on Saturday. He has trialled up twice winning nicely both times at Avondale and Pukekohe Park.
Horrie is a son of Coolmore Stud’s former shuttling stallion American Pharoah (USA) and is out of the Bullbars mare Contessa Vanessa (NZ). She was a super tough and talented five-time winning mare, her wins included the G2 Eight Carat S., and the G3 Sunline Vase., and she also managed placings in the G1 NZ Oaks, G2 Royal S., G2 Manawatu Challenge S., G3 Eulogy S., G3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ S., and the Listed Easter Cup.
American Pharoah (USA) | Standing at Coolmore
Other stakes-performers within this family are Pivo City (Not A Single Doubt), Niki Piki Milo (NZ) (Librettist {USA}), Astor (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), Shuffle Dancer (I Am Invincible), The Dom (NZ) (Swiss Ace), Never Talk (No Nay Never {USA}), Forbidden City (I Am Invincible), Bella Mente (NZ) (El Roca) and Bella Gioia (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
Contessa Vanessa’s further progeny include a two-year-old filly named Wee Nessy (NZ) by Savabeel, a yearling filly by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) and was most recently served last spring by Vadamos (Fr).
Doomben, Race 2, 12.13pm, AEST, Country Music Raceday On Sale Now QTIS 3YO H., $85,000, 1110m
Climactic, 3-year-old colt (Yes Yes Yes x Snitzel’s Joy (Snitzel)
The Matthew Dunn-trained Climactic will travel to Doomben on Saturday to have his second start over 1110 metres . On debut he was only narrowly beaten, running a close-up fourth in the $1,000,000 Golden Gift behind the very talented Shangri La Express (Alabama Express). Since this run he has had a nice break and has prepared for this assignment with two nice trial wins at Gold Coast and Murwillumbah.
The promising colt is by the former Everest winner Yes Yes Yes and is the third foal from the Snitzel mare Snitzel’s Joy, who was a three time winner over sprint distances on the track.
Climactic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The family page is a little quiet up close in regards to stakes horses but has some lovely pedigree influences throughout including Encosta De Lago, Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire), Riverman (USA), Redoute’s Choice, Canny Lad, Spectrum (Ire) and Rainbow Quest (USA)
Since producing Climactic, Snitzel’s Joy has produced a yearling filly by Jungle Cat (Ire), a weanling filly by Better Than Ready and she was most recently served again by Yes Yes Yes.
Climactic was purchased for $110,000 by Matthew Dunn/Neil Jenkinson Pty Ltd (FBAA) from the draft of Telemon Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale
Belmont, Race 1, 2.29pm, AEST (12.29pm local), Quayclean P., $80,000, 1200m
Glasgow Lass, 3-year-old filly (Alabama Express x Princess Peggy {Fusaichi Pegasus {USA})
The Mitchell Pateman-trained Alabama Express filly Glasgow Lass will be having her second start at Belmont on Saturday. On debut at Ascot she was a very impressive winner over 1100 metres on January 27 defeating Big Shots (Sizzling) who has made the form lines look good by subsequently winning the $250,000 (RL) Magic Millions West Australia 2YO C.
In preparation for this race after having a little break, Glasgow Lass has won two trials impressively at Lark Hill and Belmont.
This well-bred filly is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) mare Princess Peggy, who was a two-time winner from 1200 metres to 2000 metres including at city level in Adelaide.
Alabama Express | Standing at Yulong
Princess Peggy is a half-sister to Infinite Grace (Prince Of Birds {USA}) the seven time winner including at Group 2 and Group 3 level, another half-sister is Charming Ruby who is an unraced daughter of Rubiton, she has been a star at stud leaving The Mitigator (Master Of Design) who was a nine-time winner including the G1 Thorndon Mile and the G3 Eagle Technology S., and Fontein Ruby (Turffontein {USA}) who was successful at Group 2, Group 3 and Listed level on the track before leaving Parure (Fastnet Rock) who has been successful in the G2 Autumn C.
Since Producing Glasgow Lass, Princess Peggy has produced a weanling filly by Grunt (NZ) and was served by Yulong Stud’s Diatonic (Jpn) in the spring.
Glasgow Lass was a modest $28,000 purchase by J Warwick from the draft of Yulong Stud at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
Looking Back
Somax (Trapeze Artist) and Ferrytail (I Am Immortal) were both disappointing finishing eighth and sixth respectively.
