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 across Australia on Tuesday, including a Capitalist gelding that looks ready for maiden success at Hawkesbury and a Curlin (USA) gelding that is making his debut at Ballina.
Hawkesbury, Race 3, 2.35pm AEST, Blakes Marine H., $42,000, 1100m
Marais, 3-year-old gelding (Capitalist x Gone To Paris {Duporth})
Queensland’s Highgrove Stud sold this son of Capitalist to Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou for $220,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He made his debut at Gosford in March and was a close up second to Rock Hard Love (Pierro) over 1100 metres, at his second start he ran another close up second again at the same track and distance behind Empress Of Japan (NZ) (Savabeel), his next effort was a solid third at Wyong on March 30 behind Killcare Beachgirl (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
In preparation for this race assignment, he has trialled twice at Rosehill to get himself ready to claim his maiden win first-up this preparation.
Marais as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Marais is a full brother to the two-time winner Euros (Capitalist), who herself was a $300,000 Inglis Classic graduate.
Gone To Paris won two races and was sold at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $230,000. She is a half-sister to the smart Foxwedge mare Aristocratic Miss who has saluted the judge three times, her consistency and class can be measured by being placed in the top four of eight different stakes races.
Second dam Golden Pedigree (Gold Brose) was a Listed winner in South Australia and is a half-sister to the stakes-winning Bioligist (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and stakes-placed Fraar Side (Fraar {USA}), who in turn is the dam of the G1 Metropolitan winner The Verminator (Jeune {GB}).
Marais is aiming to become the mare’s fourth winner, following Euros, Cani Cancan (Russian Revolution) and Icing On The Cake (Astern). Gone To Paris since producing Marais, has produced a Pierata 2-year-old filly, a yearling colt by Tiger Of Malay and she was most recently served by Capitalist last spring.
Ballina, Race 4, 2.50pm AEST, Lennox Hotel Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1300m
Half Listening (USA), 4-year-old gelding (Curlin {USA} x Chintz {NZ} {Savabeel})
Ballina’s Sunday meeting will serve as the venue for the debut of the Matthew Dunn-trained and internationally bred Half Listening (USA). He has had three educational trials in preparation for this assignment at Rosehill, Deagon and Murwillumbah.
Half Listening is by the top-class American sire in Curlin and has a strong international and colonial pedigree with her page full of influential stallions including Smart Strike (Can), Deputy Minister (Can), Last Tycoon (Ire), Vice Regent (Can), Savabeel, O’Reilly (NZ) and Oncidium (NZ).
Curlin (USA) | Standing at Hill 'n' Dale Farms
His dam Chintz (NZ) was a classy six-time winner in New Zealand which included the G2 Rich Hill Mile and the G3 Westbury Classic. She was also placed in the G1 Easter H., G2 Japan/New Zealand International Trophy and the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders S.
She has already been successful in the broodmare shed leaving the talented and durable Cambridge Stud-owned gelding, Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt). He has been a seven-time winner, tasting success in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S., Listed Hareeba S., and the Listed Chester Manifold S.
Other top-class stakes performers within this pedigree are Chenille (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) the G1 Auckland Cup-winning mare, Seraphic (NZ) (Imposing), Irlanda (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), Mo’unga (NZ), Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth) and She’s A Treasure (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Looking Back
Miss Swift (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) was disappointing running fifth, she should improve with that run under her belt.
Detrimental (I Am Invincible) was scratched, the expensive purchase will keep for another day.
