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 New Zealand and Australia on Thursday. An expensive Zoustar colt debuts at Otaki, a well-bred Snitzel colt chases maiden success at Hawkesbury and an Alabama Express gelding debuts at Ballina.
Otaki, Race 3, 11.57am AEDT (1.57pm local), Uza Bus 2YO., $40,000, 1100m
Fury Of Flight, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Ready To Soar {More Than Ready {USA}})
The well-related Fury Of Flight makes his debut in the juvenile event at Otaki on Thursday over 1100 metres. He has trialled up nicely three times, winning two of these trials. At his most recent one at Waipa on November 18 over 850 metres he looked sharp, defeating two nice types in Circus Trix (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) and Sweet Ice (NZ) (Frosted {USA}).
Fury Of Flight is by Zoustar and is out of Ready To Soar (More Than Ready {USA}) who won three times on the track at sprinting distances. She is very well-related being a sister to the very good galloper Eagle Way (More Than Ready) he won eight times in Australia and Hong Kong including in the G1 Queensland Derby, G2 Hong Kong Jockey Club Cup, G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup and the G3 January Cup.
Fury Of Flight as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Ready To Soar is also a half-sister to another three Listed winners including Assertive Eagle (Danewin), Impressive Eagle (Rubiton) and Soaressa (Twining {USA}).
Other classy stakes performers that feature in this pedigree are Thermal Current (Exceed And Excel), Forever Free (Exceed And Excel) and Kalashnikov (Capitalist).
Ready To Soar since producing Fury Of Flight has had a bit of bad luck but was served by Zoustar again in December last year
Fury Of Flight was purchased for $1,100,000 by D C Ellis CNZM (BANZ) from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Hawkesbury, Race 4, 3.05pm AEDT, Pioneer Services Super 3YO Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1300m
First Mission, 3-year-old colt (Snitzel x Thump {Red Ransom {USA}})
The well-related First Mission is set to make his third start over 1300 metres for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou on the back of two very nice performances to start his career. On debut he ran a close-up fifth behind the promising and now stakes-placed Manos (Snitzel) at Warwick Farm over 1200 metres on October 16 and then he ran a good second behind the exciting Candlewick (Pierro) at Wyong on November 9. He has run behind two tidy animals in his first two starts and he looks ready to capitalise on that form and gain deserved maiden success.
First Mission is a son of Arrowfield Stud Snitzel and is the fourth live foal from the Red Ransom (USA) mare Thump. She was very talented on the track winning four times all at stakes level from 1200 metres to 1400 metres. Included in her wins were the G2 Surround S., G2 Silver Shadow S., G3 Triscay S. and the G3 Champagne S.
First Mission as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
At stud she has already left two winners including the five-time winner Wild West Wing (Exceed And Excel) and the four-time winner Brave Warrior (Exceed And Excel).
Thump is also out of the four-time Listed-winning mare Oomph (Flying Spur) and a three-quarter sister to Noble Red (Red Ransom {USA}) who was successful at Listed level and a half-sister to Snoopy (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Oomaroo (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) who was unraced but left the classy stayer Mongolian Wolf (Pluck {USA}) who won seven times including the G3 Frank Packer Plate.
The Snitzel Red Ransom cross has had great proven success with a very good 71% winners to runners ratio, and a very solid 13 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. The talented Group 2 filly Chance Bye is one example of a classy galloper that is bred on this cross
Thump since producing First Mission has a 2-year-old by Russian Revolution, and a Russian Revolution colt foal that was born in August.
First Mission was purchased at the sales by Curran Bloodstock for $725,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Cressfield.
Ballina, Race 4, 3.25pm AEDT, Ballina RSL Mdn H., $27,000, 1012m
Monarch Express, 3-year-old gelding (Alabama Express x Lady Zabeel {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}})
Ballina’s Thursday meeting will be the venue for the debut of Monarch Express, a flashy black gelding by the very exciting Alabama Express. In preparation for this race he trialled at Casino and ran a close-up second behind Little Bunji (Shooting To Win) over 1000 metres on October 26.
Monarch Express is the sixth live foal from the Zabeel (NZ) mare Lady Zabeel (NZ), who was unraced on the track but has had some good success already as a broodmare leaving five winners, the best of them being Mirette (Unencumbered) who was successful in the G3 Auraria S., and placed in the G1 Schweppes Oaks. Her other winners were Zafox (Foxwedge), Jazzmatazz (Unecumbered), Letzxcel (Exceed And Excel) and Reservoir Dog (Choisir).
Monarch Express | Image courtesy of Inglis
He has some lovely pedigree influences throughout with a nice combination of speed and staying stallions including Zabeel, Redoute’s Choice, Encosta De Lago, Canny Lad, Danehill (USA), Nureyev (USA), Star Way (GB), Balmerino (NZ) and Rainbow Quest (USA).
Lady Zabeel since producing Monarch Express has left a yearling colt by the exciting Lucky Vega (Ire) before missing to him last spring.
Monarch Express was withdrawn from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Looking Back
La Bella Boom (Spirit Of Boom) won very nicely at Doomben, she had a great battle with Don'tdoubthelady (Dubious) and just got the better of her late. They put 6l on the third horse and that is often the sign that this could be a strong form race for the first two runners.
Rambling (Zoustar) was again scratched, she will keep for another day.
Poroto (NZ) (Written Tycoon) disappointed running ninth, he raced in a prominent position but faded out in the straight.
