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.
Two exciting runners are set to hit the track at Bendigo on Sunday. These include an Almanzor (Fr) mare that looks ready to win over 2400 metres and a well-bred Justify (USA) filly resumes after showing promising form as a juvenile.
Apiam Bendigo, Race 1, 11.15am AEDT, Budget Bendigo Mdn Plate, $37,500, 2400m
Jenni The Tank (NZ), 4-year-old mare (Almanzor {Fr} x King’s Violet {Commands})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Almanzor mare Jenni The Tank (NZ) will be making her third start at Bendigo on Sunday over 2400 metres. She debuted at Warrnambool on October 31 and ran on strongly to place third over 1700 meters, she then stepped straight up to 2200 metres at Donald and ran a solid second behind Crossoverkid (Alpine Eagle) on November 17 over 2200 metres. The increase in distance to 2400 metres looks made to suit this promising staying mare.
This mare is the fourth foal out of the commands mare King’s Violet, who was a winner at 1200 metres in New Zealand. She holds plenty of appeal being a half-sister to the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year in King’s Rose (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) she was successful eight-times including in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas, G2 Royal S., G2 WH Stocks S., G2 Memsie S., G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, G3 Eulogy S. and the Listed Ray Coupland S.
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Hardham is another half-sibling, and he was successful in the G2 Alister Clark S., and went on to become a stallion. Other successful group winners within this pedigree are Satono Arthur (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Roanoke (Danehill {USA}), Lofty Arch (Snitzel), Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock), Gybe (Fastnet Rock), Crosswinds (Written Tycoon) and The Blue Eye (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
King’s Violet since producing Jenni The Tank has left a 3-year-old filly by Almanzor that is yet to be named.
Jenni The Tank was a $280,000 purchase by A Ottobre from the draft of Maluka Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Apiam Bendigo, Race 5, 1.15pm AEDT, Drake International Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1300m
Fontaine Rouge, 3-year-old filly (Justify {USA} x Fontein Ruby {Turffontein})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Justify filly Fontaine Rouge will be having her third start at Bendigo on Sunday. On debut at Cranbourne, she ran a solid third when she made very good ground late from back in the field, then at her second start she ran a solid third at metropolitan level at Sandown on June 5 over 1400 metres behind Red Galaxy (Stratum Star). After having a break, she has prepared for this race with a quiet trial at Camperdown on October 29 and a couple more jump outs at Burrumbeet and Cranbourne.
This well-bred filly is out of the Turffontein mare Fontein Ruby, who was a six-time winner from 1200 metres to 2000 metres including in the G2 Edward Manifold S., G3 Caulfield Classic and the Listed Alexandra S.
She holds a very interesting pedigree-pattern being by a son of Johannesburg (USA) in Justify and out of a mare that is a grand-daughter of Johannesburg through Turffontein. This gives Fontaine Rouge a 3 x 3 male cross of the son of Hennessy (USA) in Johannesburg.
Fontaine Rouge as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has also been successful at stud leaving two individual winners including the stakes winner Parure (Fastnet Rock) who won the G2 Autumn Classic, and the winner Steamboat Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Fontein Ruby is also a half-sister to The Mitigator (Master Of Design) who was a nine-time winner including the G1 Thorndon Mile and the G3 Eagle Technology S.
Other top-level stakes performers in the family include Palumbo (Sebring), Cardinal Gem (Choisir), Infinite Grace (Prince Of Birds), Total Attraction (Nadeem) and Pretty In Pink (Sebring).
Since Producing Fontaine Rouge, Fontein Ruby has produced a 3-year-old gelding named Straffan (I Am Invincible), a 2-year-old filly by I Am Invincible named Biologics, and a yearling filly by Home Affairs.
Fontaine Rouge was a $500,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Deep Affection (Street Boss {USA}) went okay on debut, running a 'better than it looked' tenth. She battled on well after getting in a tricky position.
Maldini (Too Darn Hot {GB}) ran an okay race for sixth while Tennessee Valley (Alabama Express) in the same race disappointed running last.
