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.
Te Rapa, Race 2, 2.10pm, AEST (12.10pm local), Banquo 3YO Mdn., $25,000, 1200m
Truth Or Dare (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Vanbrugh x Thetruthisoutthere {Starcraft {USA}})
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Truth Or Dare (NZ) will travel to Te Rapa on Saturday to have his second start over 1200 metres . On debut he did not have a lot of luck when running a good fourth at Otaki behind the talented Domain Ace (Swiss Ace). Since that run he had a nice break and has prepared for his second preparation with a quiet trial at Avondale, before winning a trial at Te Rapa nicely on Aug 6 over 900 metres when defeating Heza Sharp One (Castelvecchio).
The promising gelding is by Windsor Park Stud’s Group 1 winning son of Encosta De Lago in Vanbrugh, and is the third foal from the Starcraft (NZ) mare Thetruthisoutthere (NZ), who was a winner over 1200 metres in New Zealand.
Truth Or Dare (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Apart from his grandam Absolute Faith (Not A Single Doubt) who was placed in the G3 Vanity S., G2 Autumn C., and the G1 Vinery Stud S., 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, Danehill (USA), Centaine, Redoute’s Choice, Nureyev (USA) and Star Way (GB).
Since producing Truth Or Dare, Thetruthisoutthere has produced a yearling colt by Armory (Ire) and is due to foal again to Armory next month.
Truth Or Dare was originally a $60,000 purchase by Raptors Thoroughbred from the draft of Highline Thoroughbreds at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Book 2 Sale. He was then a successful pinhook when selling from the Riversley Park Ltd draft for $120,000 to Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAF NZ) from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Doomben, Race 1, 12.13pm, AEST, Become a BRC Member QTIS 3YO H., $85,000, 1350m
Creativity Miss, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Creativity (Master Of Design)
The Stuart Kendrick-trained Written Tycoon filly Creativity Miss will be making her second start at Doomben on Saturday over 1350 metres. She trialled up four-times and won three of them very impressively before her debut at the Sunshine Coast where she ran a solid third behind Hoffman (Spirit Of Boom) on August 4 over 1200 metres.
Written Tycoon | Standing at Yulong
This filly is the second foal out of the Master Of Design mare Creativity, who was a four-time winner and also managed to be Listed placed in Melbourne. She is a half-sister to Gulinga Spirit-Galaxy Patch (HK) (Wandjina) who is a dual Group 3 winner in Hong Kong and G1 placed in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
Creativity’s further progeny include a two-year-old filly by Lonhro, a yearling filly by Pierata and is due to foal to Spirit Of Boom in October.
Creativity Miss was a bargain $10,000 purchase by Michael Sheerin Racing from the draft of Alexia Fraser Bloodstock at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Morphettville, Race 1, 12.47pm, AEST (12.17pm local), Sportsbet Nobody Does It Better Mdn P., $50,000, 1250m
Fine Future (Jpn), 4-year-old gelding (Fine Needle {Jpn} x Mirai E {Jpn} {Deep Impact {Jpn}})
The Japanese-bred Fine Future (Jpn) is set to have his fourth start over 1250 metres for Murray Bridge based trainer Stephen Theodore at Morphettville on the back of a lovely trial win at Morphettville on Aug 1 over 800 metres.
In his first campaign for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young he placed twice in Melbourne from only three career starts. He now calls South Australia home and going by his promising trial win, it may not be long before he tastes maiden success.
Fine Future (Jpn) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fine Future is a son of Darley Japan’s sire Fine Needle (Jpn) and is out of Mirai E (Jpn). She was unplaced on the track but is very well-related. She is a sister to the Woodside Park Stallion and dual Group 1 winner Tosen Stardom (Jpn) and the Group winner Centelleo (Jpn), a three-quarter-sister to Tosen Homareboshi (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and a half-sister to stakes-placed Neo Stardom (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn})
Since being exported to Australia Fine Needle has produced a two-year-old filly by Frankel (GB) and is due to foal next month to Arrowfields young dual Group 1 Derby winning son of Maurice (Jpn) in Hitotsu.
Fine Future was originally a $300,000 purchase by Busuttin Racing from the draft of Emirates Park at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He has subsequently been purchased for $15,000 at the 2024 Inglis May (Late) Online Sale.
Looking Back
Polish Power (Dundeel {NZ}) ran an okay race for sixth, it was an improvers run.
Half Listening (USA) (Curlin {USA}) won nicely on debut at Murwillumbah, this internationally-bred gelding looks like he may have a promising future as a stayer.
Climactic (Yes Yes Yes) was unfortunately scratched, he will keep for another day.
