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 across New Zealand and Australia on Sunday. A well-bred Almanzor (Fr) filly chases maiden success at Gore and a Dundeel (NZ) half-sister to a Golden Slipper winner looks hard to beat at Sale.
Gore, Race 2, 10.28am AEDT (12.28pm local), Hokonui Suzuki/Advance Agriculture Maiden, $25,000, 1335m
Kellanzor (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Almanzor (Fr) x Kelly O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ})
The Samantha Wynne-trained Almanzor (Fr) filly Kellanzor (NZ) will be making her second start at Gore on Sunday over 1355 metres. She ran a great race on debut when she was only run down late in the piece by Sakurajima (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) at Kurow on December 30.
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
This well-bred filly is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Kelly O’Reilly (NZ), who was a seven-time winner in New Zealand including in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. She has also left two individual winners including the six-time winner Ring Of Honour (Tavistock (NZ}) and Gleditsia (Extreme Choice).
Kellanzor is bred on the same Almanzor/O’Reilly cross as Positivity (NZ) who has been a three-time Group 3 winner. This cross is running at a solid 9 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio.
Unfortunately Kellanzor was Kelly O’Reilly’s last foal
Sale, Race 1, 12.50pm AEDT, Duart Homestead Maiden Plate, $37,500, 1732m
Cinch, 3-year-old filly (Dundeel (NZ) x Eye For Fun {Snitzel})
The well-bred Cinch (Dundeel {NZ}) is set to have her fourth start over 1732 metres for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes at Sale on Sunday. She has placed in two of her three starts, including a very good narrow second at Pakenham over a mile last start on January 10 behind His Finest Hour (NZ) (Proisir).
Cinch is out of the Snitzel mare Eye For Fun, she was unraced on the track but has proven to be an outstanding broodmare. She has left six individual winners including the outstanding Mossfun (Mossman) who saluted the judge four times with all of them being at stakes level including in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes, G2 Silver Slipper Stakes, G3 Widden Stakes and the R. Listed Inglis Nursery.
Cinch as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The other stakes winner that Cinch has left is Mawahibb-Aramco (Magic Albert), he was a Champion sprinter in Singapore winning 11-times including at Listed level three times.
Adding to her pedigree are some other talented Group winners including Dajraan (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Bodyguard (I Am Invincible), Karli’s Karma (Deep Field), Eximius (Exceed And Excel) and Sassy Boom (Spirit Of Boom).
Eye For Fun since producing Cinch has left a 2-year-old colt by Ole Kirk named Godtfred Kirk, a yearling colt by Ole Kirk who is entered in the 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 368 and she was most recently served by Jacquinot last spring.
Cinch was passed in short of her reserve at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Return To Conquer (Snitzel) won at Ellerslie in a really nice fashion, he looks a very promising colt and potential stallion prospect.
Fermoy (Zoustar) was disappointing when running sixth at Rosehill.
Forceofone (NZ) (Super Seth) was caught out wide and had a tough run, he weakened out to finish eighth.
