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 runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Thursday. A Harry Angel (Ire) filly makes her debut at Moe, an Almanzor (Fr) mare looks to break through also at Moe, and a Shalaa (Ire) gelding looks ready to taste maiden success at Hawkesbury.
Moe, Race 3, 2pm, AEDT, Ladbrokes Own Spring Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Angel Of The Sea, 3-year-old filly (Harry Angel (Ire) x Transocean {Lonhro})
The well-related Angel Of The Sea is set to make her debut at Moe for trainer’s Ben, Will and JD Hayes on Thursday.
Angel Of The Sea is a daughter of Darley Stud’s shuttler Harry Angel (Ire) and is the sixth live-foal from the Lonhro mare Transocean. She was unraced on the track but has proven to be a handy broodmare leaving four winners including Sea Maher (Al Maher), Bullet Storm (Sizzling), Queen Of Nations (Shalaa {Ire}) and Lim’s Fuji (Foxwedge).
Angel Of The Sea as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This family is a bit quiet upfront but it has a lot of depth deeper, some stakes-performers further back within this pedigree are Speedy Bell (Brocco {USA}), Silverstream (Al Maher), Speedy Natalie (Al Maher), Sweet And Speedy (Street Cry {Ire}), Bases Loaded (Deep Field) and Calanda (Snitzel).
Since producing Angel Of The Sea, Transocean has left a yearling filly by Trapeze Artist and most recently foaled a filly by Zousain in September this year.
Angel Of The Sea was a $60,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Racing from the draft of Burke Bloodstock at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Moe, Race 5, 3pm, AEDT, Eureka Garages Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1600m
Scottie’s Legacy, 4-year-old mare (Almanzor (Fr) x Kay’s Legacy (NZ) {Zabeel {NZ}})
The Mark Walker-trained Almanzor (Fr) mare Scottie’s Legacy will be making her third start at Moe on Thursday over 1600 metres. She debuted in New Zealand at Tauranga running third in October last year and after having a long break made her next start at Kyneton on October 22 over 1469 metres where she ran a great race for second behind Stupendous (Trapeze Artist).
This mare is the third foal out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Kay’s Legacy (NZ), who only raced three times on the track for no success. But she holds plenty of appeal being a half-sister to the talented Almanzor gelding in Rise at Dawn (NZ). He has so far been successful 7-times with the best of his wins being in the Listed Heatherlie S. Another half-sister is the Group-placed Almanzor filly Kay’s Ruebe (NZ).
Scottie's Legacy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Kay’s Awake (NZ) (Towkay) is the grandam of Scottie’s Legacy, she was an extremely talented sprinter winning 6-times including in the Listed Newmarket H., but she showed her class placing twice in both the G1 Telegraph H., and the G1 Waikato Draught Sprint, and also in the G3 Stewards S., Listed Kelt Memorial H., Listed Lion Red Plate, Listed Lightning S., and the Listed Pegasus S.
Kay's Legacy since producing Scottie's Legacy has left a 3-year-old unraced gelding named Marebello (NZ) (Epaulette), a 2-year-old filly by Contributer (Ire) and a yearling filly by Almanzor.
Scottie’s Legacy was a NZ$110,000 purchase by Shaune Ritchie Racing from the draft of Leanach Lodge at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Hawkesbury, Race 3, 2.25pm, AEDT, Blakes Marine Super Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1000m
Shalaa Gold, 3-year-old gelding (Shalaa (Ire) x Murtle Turtle {Murtajill})
It's a solid and strong form line for this Bjorn Baker trained gelding who at his first start at Warwick Farm ran second behind the very talented colt Emirate (Extreme Choice) on May 8 and then at his second start he ran another good second behind also at Warwick Farm behind Private Life (Written Tycoon) the subsequent G1 Caulfield Guineas victor on May 22. After a break he resumed with another second at Wyong on October 31 over 1100 metres behind Fiorenza (Kingman {GB}). This form looks very strong for a maiden race at Hawkesbury and he very much looks the horse to beat on exposed face value.
Shalaa Gold is by Shalaa (Ire) and is the fifth foal out of Murtle Turtle (Murtajill) who was a talented juvenile who won at metropolitan level in South Australia and managed placings in the G3 Breeders’ S., and the G3 Sires’ Produce S.
Shalaa Gold as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Murtle Turtle has made a useful start to her breeding career, she has left four individual-winners including the 9-time winner Hurtle (Capitalist), the 3-time winner California Deeply (Deep Field), Gun (Extreme Choice) and Time For Love (Time For War).
The family page has some lovely pedigree influences including Invincible Spirit (Ire), Danzig (USA), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire), Last Tycoon (Ire), Roberto (USA) and Diesis (GB).
Murtle Turtle, since producing Shalaa Gold has left a 2-year-old colt named Prestige Prince (Pierro), a yearling colt by Widden Stud’s Anders and was due to foal to Marine One last month.
Shalaa Gold was purchased by Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock FBAA from the draft of Emirates Park (As Agent for Merricks Station) for $240,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom) got a deserved win at Caulfield, he was strong late and pounced nicely.
Inside Man (Lonhro) was scratched from Canterbury, he will keep for another day.
The races were abandoned at Ipswich, Humid (Snitzel) will also keep for another day.
