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 Contributer (Ire) gelding chasing maiden success at Te Rapa, a Spirit Of Boom filly is chasing a maiden win on the Sunshine Coast and a Hellbent gelding brings solid form to a maiden event at Kembla Grange.
Te Rapa, Race 2, 11.05am, AEST (1.05pm local) Skycity Hamilton Mdn., $20,000, 1400m
Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Contributer {Ire} x Pouter {Dubawi {Ire}})
The well-bred Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) is set to make his second start over 1400 metres for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh at Te Rapa on Saturday. On debut at Te Rapa on July 27 he ran a very nice third over 1200 metres on a heavy track where he ran home very strongly, with that experience and more distance, a good performance is expected.
Kiwi Skyhawk is a son of Mapperley Stud’s stallion Contributer (Ire) and is out of the Dubawi (Ire) mare Pouter. She was a two-time winner on the track including a metropolitan win in Sydney. She is a half-sister to the well-performed Excelltastic (Exceed And Excel) who was successful in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas but was also stakes-placed in the G1 Spring Champion S.
Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Pouter has made a mark as a broodmare leaving five winners including the good staying filly Rock Dove (Epaulette) who won the Listed Stutt S., and managed placings in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks and the Listed St Leger, Midland-King Land (HK) (Brazen Beau) was a five-time winner and the victor in the Listed Inglis 3YO Guineas. Her other winners include Hessian (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), Attracted (Commands), and Grincheux-Amazing (HK) (Medaglia D’Oro).
Kiwi Skyhawk was purchased at the sales by Stephen Marsh/Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $240,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale from the draft of Cambridge Stud.
Sunshine Coast, Race 1, 11.38am, AEST, Butler McDermott Lawyers QTIS 3YO Mdn H., $30,000, 1000m
Heart And Spirit, 3-year-old filly (Spirit Of Boom x Hearts And Arrows {Kempinsky})
The Stuart Kendrick trained Heart And Spirit will be heading to the Sunshine Coast on Sunday to make her second start over debut over 1000 metres. She was an impressive trial winner on the Sunshine Coast Synthetic on March 7 and then ran a battling fifth behind the very smart Mishani Lily (Kobayashi) who subsequently was successful at Listed level. After having a little break Heart And Spirit won a trial nicely on the Sunshine Coast Synthetic track on July 23 over 850 metres. She has drawn the ace gate and looks well placed with 55kg after the claim of apprentice Cody Collis.
This Spirit Of Boom filly is the sixth foal from the Kempinsky mare Hearts And Arrows, who easily won two of her three starts before injury brought an early end to her career. She is a half-sister to the Group 1 placed mare Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled) who was the victor in the G3 Manawatu Breeders S., and a dual winner of the G3 ARC Alison S. Another half-sibling was the Australian and Hong Kong performed Fair Trade (Danewin) who was victorious in the G3 CS Hayes S. at just his second start.
Heart And Spirit | Image courtesy of Inglis
A descendant of - and line-bred to - the famed matriarch Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) - Hearts And Arrows has already left her mark at stud leaving the very talented sprinter in Jonker who was successful in five races including the G1 Manikato S., and the Listed Keith Noud H., he now stands at stud at Aquis Farm. Beau Arrow (Love Conquers All) and Gandiva (Magic Albert) are also winners that she has produced.
Hearts and Arrows, since producing Heart And Spirit, has produced a So You Think (NZ) yearling colt, and unfortunately missed to Spirit Of Boom last spring.
Heart And Spirit was a $180,000 purchase by Kendrick Racing, from the draft of Eureka Stud at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 12.25pm, AEST, Congratulations Saya Sakakibara CG&E Mdn H., $42,000, 1200m
Beauty Edge, 4-year-old gelding (Hellbent x Saint Minerva (Galileo {Ire})
The well-bred Beauty Edge, is set to make his third start over 1200 metres for Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith at Kembla Grange on Saturday. In preparation he has placed twice in his two career starts so far at Canterbury and Newcastle.
This promising gelding is by Yarraman Park Stud’s progressive stallion in Hellbent, who had an outstanding last season leaving the Group 1 winners Benedetta and Magic Time.
Beauty Edge is the eighth foal from Saint Minerva (Galileo {Ire}). She was a smart mare on the track winning three-times from 1200 metres to 2200 metres including the G3 Grand Prix S.
Beauty Edge | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has made a mark as a broodmare leaving six foals to race and they have all been winners. Included in this bunch are the sharp sprinter Nettuno (I Am Invincible) who won the G3 Ken Russell Memorial C., and placed in the G3 San Domenico S., and the Listed Falvelon H., and Cheerful Days (Smart Missile) was a seven-time winner and Group placed in Hong Kong. Her other winners are Cormac (All Too Hard), Ducale (I Am Invincible), Mustarrid (Hinchinbrook) and Cosmic Minerva (Deep Field).
Within this pedigree there is a nice mix of pedigree influences. Significant stallions that feature within the page are Invincible Spirit (Ire), Volksraad (GB), Sadler’s Wells (USA), Last Tycoon (Ire), Zamazaan (Fr), Mill Reef (USA) and Miswaki (USA).
Beauty Edge was a $210,000 purchase by Dullingham Party Ltd from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale
Looking Back
Heff (Proisir) was unfortunately a scratching, he will keep.
Quello Dorato (Trapeze Artist) ran a good third, he was running on strongly again and looks a potential nice stayer.
Morganite (Written Tycoon) was disappointing, finishing well back.
