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 runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Friday. We have a Street Boss (USA) 3-year-old gelding looking for maiden success on the Ballarat Synthetic. A Tarzino (NZ) mare makes her debut on the Ballarat Synthetic and Ipswich is the venue for the debut of an American-bred son of Curlin (USA).
Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Brandt 3YO Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1200m
Chicago King, 3-year-old gelding (Street Boss {USA} x Belle Danseuse {USA} {Eskendereya {USA}})
Chicago King, a son of Darley Stud’s proven stallion Street Boss (USA), will be having his second start for Flemington trainer’s Anthony and Sam Freedman after running a very good third on debut on the same track over 1100 metres on August 2 behind Excellent Lover (Exceed And Excel).
The well-bred gelding is the first foal from the Eskendereya (USA) mare Belle Danseuse (USA), she was a six-time winner in America before being imported into Australia.
Chicago King as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Belle Danseuse is well-related being a half-sister to the classy Letzbeglam (Snitzel) who was a three-time winner in Australia and New Zealand, she was successful in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (f) and the G3 Counties Bowl. She has since been retired and is due to foal to Zoustar this spring. Snazz ‘n’ Charm is another half-sibling and she was a three-time winner in Queensland and was also Listed placed.
Belle Danseuse, since producing Chicago King, has left a yearling colt by Snitzel and unfortunately slipped to Shamus Award from her last service.
Chicago King sold for $350,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Anthony Freedman Racing/Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA)/My Racehorse Pty Ltd being the successful purchaser from the draft of Rosemont Stud.
Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic, Race 4, 2.30pm AEST, Veolia Fillies & Mares Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1400m
The Ambassador (NZ), 4-year-old mare (Tarzino {NZ} x Kaia {Starcraft {NZ}})
The Mornington-based and Matt Laurie-trained The Ambassador (NZ) will make her debut on the Ballarat Synthetic on Friday over 1400 metres. She will be ridden by the apprentice Dakotah Keane who will be claiming 2kg.
This Tarzino (NZ) mare is out of the Starcraft (NZ) mare Kaia, who was unraced on the track but is well-related and has an interesting international page. The family is full of stayers and with the combination of Tarzino being her sire who was a Group 1 winner over 2000 metres and 2500 metres, you would expect this mare will be at her best over staying trips.
Tarzino (NZ) | Standing at Westbury Stud
Kaia is a half-sister to Ambria (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) who was a Listed winner in Germany as a juvenile and the group-placed Anjella (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).
Some other stakes-performers in the pedigree are the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Attila (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), Ancient Spirit (Ger), River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Arnis Master (Ger) (Tai Chi {Ger}).
Kaia, since producing The Ambassador, has left an unraced three-year-old named Bossea (Tarzino), a 2-year-old colt by Tarzino and is due to foal to Windsor Park Stud’s exciting sire Profondo this spring.
Ipswich, Race 1, 12.17pm AEST, Barrier Reef Pools Mdn Plate, $30,000, 1350m
Half Listening (USA), 4-year-old gelding (Curlin (USA) x Chintz {NZ} {Savabeel})
Ipswich’s Friday meeting will serve as the venue for the debut of the Matthew Dunn-trained Half Listening (USA). He has had three educational trials in preparation for this raceday assignment at Rosehill, Deagon and Murwillumbah.
Half Listening is by the top class American sire in Curlin (USA) and has a strong international and colonial pedigree with her page full of influential stallions including Smart Strike (USA), 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, USA
His dam Chintz (NZ) was a classy six-time winner in New Zealand and her wins 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 and he tasted success in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S., Listed Hareeba S., and the Listed Chester Manifold S.
Other top class stakes-performers within this top class pedigree are the G1 Auckland Cup winning mare Chenille (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), 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
Madam Instrife (Russian Revolution) ran a very good second at Newcastle, she ran home very strongly from back in the field to only narrowly be beaten.
Road To Recovery (Written Tycoon) was very disappointing running ninth at Terang.
