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 3-year-old runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Thursday. These include a a well-bred Snitzel colt that makes his debut at Cranbourne, a Vanbrugh gelding has his first start in Australia after showing plenty of talent in New Zealand and a well-related Pierata filly looks to break through at Kembla Grange
Cranbourne, Race 2, 2pm, AEST, Ladbrokes Own Spring 3YO Mdn P., $37,500, 1200m
Lofty Arch, 3-year-old colt (Snitzel x Soneva (USA) {Cherokee Run {USA}})
Lofty Arch, a son of Arrowfield Stud’s outstanding stallion Snitzel, will make his debut for Cranbourne trainer Alex Rae on his home track on Thursday.
The dam of Lofty Arch is Soneva (USA) (Cherokee Run {USA}), she was a classy performer who won four-times including the G3 Prix d’Aumale, G3 Prix de Lieurey, Listed Prix La Camargo and the Listed Meydan Cape Verdi S.
Lofty Arch as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Soneva has been a very good broodmare leaving six individual winners, with the best of them being The Blue Eye (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who won 20-times from 1200 metres up to 2400 metres in France and Qatar, including four-times at Listed level. Another one of her progeny is the Siyouni (Fr) mare See You Soon, who was a winner as a juvenile and group-placed in the G2 Reisling S., and the G2 Percy Sykes S.
This family has a lot of depth and has been successful all around the world, other stakes winners further back within this pedigree are King’s Rose (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}), Anavinci (I Am Invincible), Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock), Satono Arthur (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Gybe (Fastnet Rock), Crosswinds (Written Tycoon), Hardham, Roanoke (Danehill {USA}), Hessonite (USA) (Freud {USA}) and Coronado Rose (USA) (Coronado’s Quest {USA}).
Lofty Arch sold for $200,000 at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with the Lofty Thoroughbreds Group Pty Ltd being the successful purchaser from the draft of Twin Hills Stud.
Cranbourne, Race 3, 2.30pm, AEST, Race For Rule Mdn P., $37,500, 1600m
Truth Or Dare (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Vanbrugh x Thetruthisoutthere {Starcraft {USA}})
The Mark Walker trained Truth Or Dare (NZ) will run on his new home track at Cranbourne on Thursday to have his third start over 1600 metres . On debut he did not have a lot of luck running a good fourth at Otaki behind the talented Domain Ace (Swiss Ace). After that run he had a nice break and started his second preparation with a very good third at Te Rapa on August 24 behind the promising Suit Yourself (NZ) (Savile Row {NZ}) over 1200 metres before being exported to the Te Akau Australia base to continue his career.
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 this 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.
Kembla Grange, Race 6, 4.50pm AEST, Phil Ryan Memorial ‘Culburra Beach Bowlo’ Super Mdn H., $60,000, 1500m
November Air, 3-year-old filly (Pierata x Chickaletta {Redoute’s Choice})
November Air, a daughter of Yulong Stud’s promising young stallion Pierata, will have her fourth start at Wyong for Warwick Farm’s training partnership of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald. On debut at Newcastle on July 13 she only faded late in the piece after being in a prominent position behind Codetta (Nicconi) and she has since run solid fifth and third placings at Wyong and Hawkesbury. In all of her runs it can be assessed that she maybe looking for more ground and she steps up to 1500 metres today.
The well-related filly is the third foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Chickaletta, who was unraced on the track.
November Air as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She is bred on the same Pierata/Redoute’s Choice cross as the smart juvenile Coleman (Pierata) who last season won the G3 Chairman’s S., and the Listed Debutant S., as well as placing in the G1 Golden Slipper, G3 Pago Pago S., and the G1 Sire’s Produce S.
The extended Pierro/Redoute’s Choice cross has also had great proven success with a 72% winners to runners ratio and a solid 11% stakes winners to runners ratio. Some of the stakes-winning gallopers on the track with this cross includes the Group 1 winners Regal Power, Arcadia Queen and Levendi.
Chickaletta is well-related being a half-sister to Oak Door (Commands) who was successful six times including in the G2 Autumn S., and the G3 Sir John Monash S., and her dam is the five-time winning mare, Beyonce’s Star (Orientate {USA}) who was successful in the Listed Just Now H., and later produced five individual winners from five to race.
Chickaletta since producing November Air, has left a 2-year-old colt by Star Turn, a yearling colt by Pierata and is due to foal to Pride Of Dubai in November.
November Air was a $220,000 purchase by Justin Fung/Aquis Stallions/Kacy Fogden Racing from the draft of Raheen Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Street Chase (Zoustar) was impressive gaining a deserved maiden win at Doomben, he sat right on the pace and asserted his authority late winning comfortably by 3 lengths.
Zoubaby (Zoustar) was unfortunately scratched, she will keep for another day.
Heff (NZ) (Proisir) was disappointing running seventh at Sandown.
