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 hit the Randwick-Kensington Track on Wednesday, including a promising Toronado (Ire) gelding related to Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), a well-bred Justify gelding that looks ready for maiden success and a well-bred The Autumn Sun filly that has looked good at the trials makes her debut.
Randwick-Kensington, Race 1, 1:25pm, AEST, Street Boss @ Darley H., $100,000, 1150m
Theblade, 3-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 on the Randwick-Kensington Track 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.
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.
Toronado (Ire) | Image courtesy of Swettenham Stud
Another half-sister is he Champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) who was the unbeaten winner of twenty-five races including fifteen Group 1 races, the unraced Naturale (Bel Esprit) is another half-sibling and she 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.
Randwick-Kensington, Race 1, 1:25pm, AEST, Street Boss @ Darley H., $100,000, 1150m
Perfect Justice, 3-year-old gelding (Justify (USA) x Childhood (USA) {Lonhro})
Perfect Justice, a son of Coolmore Stud’s classy stallion Justify (USA), will make his second start on the Randwick-Kensington track for Randwick trainer John Sargent. He had plenty of trials prior to his debut and then then ran a sound third at Wyong on July 25 over 1300 behind the promising Automated (Trapeze Artist). The promising gelding is the third foal from the Lonhro mare Childhood (USA), who was a winner twice on the track as a juvenile in Ireland.
Childhood has only had one runner to the races so far and she has proven to be smart on the track, Infancy (Wandjina) has won three races in her career so far including the Listed Fireball S., and placings in the Listed Tatt’s RC Life Members S., and the G3 PJ Bell S.
Perfect Justice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Childhood is very well-related being a half-sister to three stakes-winners and another two winners that were stakes-placed. These were Baby J (USA) (J Be K {USA}), Laureate Conductor (USA) (Bernstein {USA}) and Lavender Chrissie (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}). Alos the stakes-performed Gossamer Wings (USA) (Scat Daddy) and Que Posse (USA) (Posse {USA}).
Childhood since producing Perfect Justice has left a two-year-old filly by Graff named Child’s Play, a yearling colt by Graff and was most recently served last spring by Darley Stud’s Bivouac.
Perfect Justice sold for $280,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd (FBAA)/John Sargent Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Coolmore Stud.
Randwick-Kensington, Race 2, 2pm, AEST, Inglis Xtra Bonus H., $60,000, 1150m
Autumn Glow, 3-year-old filly (The Autumn Sun x Via Africa {Saf} {Var {USA}})
The regally-bred Autumn Glow is set to make her debut over 1150 metres for Rosehill trainer Chris Waller on the Randwick-Kensington Track on Wednesday. She has trialled up nicely in preparation having won two out of her three trials. Most recently she won very nicely over 900 metres on August 6 defeating the very talented and multiple stakes-placed colt Embassy (I Am Invincible).
Autumn Glow is a daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s promising stallion The Autumn Sun and is out of the Var (USA) mare Via Africa (USA). She was a very talented sprinting racemare winning ten times in South Africa including at Group 1 level three-times.
Autumn Glow as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Via Africa has made a mark as a broodmare leaving two winners including In The Congo, he was the victor in the G1 Golden Rose and the G2 San Domenico S., and managed placings in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint S., G2 Run To The Rose, G3 Sydney S., Listed Rosebud H., and the G1 Galaxy H., he now stands at Newgate Stud Farm where he is preparing to serve his second book of mares. Her other runner to the race is the classy Hong Kong sprinter Pleasant Endeavor (Redoute’s Choice) who has been the victor in six races from 1000 metres to 1200 metres.
Via Africa has unfortunately not produced a live-foal since producing Autumn Glow, but her five-year-old daughter Protea (Vancouver) was unraced, but is now breeding and is due to foal to Dundeel (NZ) in September.
Autumn Glow was originally purchased for $600,000 by Silverdale Farm/Shrone Bloodstock from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions National Weanling Sale and was then a very successful pin-hook when being sold for $1,800,000 from the draft of Silverdale Farm to Arrowfield Pastoral/Hermitage Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
The Ballina races were unfortunately postponed, Half Listening (USA) (Curlin {USA}) will keep for another day.
Marais (Capitalist) ran a solid third at Hawkesbury, a win is getting close.
