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. A promising 2-year-old Satono Aladdin (Jpn) gelding chases maiden success at Tauherenikau, an Almanzor (Fr) gelding makes his debut at Wangaratta and beautifully bred I Am Invincible gelding looks hard to beat at Pakenham.
Tauherenikau, Race 2, 11.10am AEDT (1.10pm local), Pope and Gray Contractors Maiden 2YO, $18,500, 1000m
Our Sniper (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Satono Aladdin {Jpn} x Uralla {Charge Forward})
Tauherenikau’s Thursday meeting will serve as the venue for the third start of Our Sniper (NZ), a 2-year-old gelded son of Satono Aladdin (Jpn) from the Lisa Latta stable at Awapuni. He looks very hard to beat in this event as he has run two good thirds in his career so far at Tauherenikau and Wanganui behind promising types In The Air (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) and He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel).
Our Sniper is the third foal out of Uralla (Charge Forward) who only raced twice on the track.
Our Sniper (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The family page is a bit quiet in terms of having group performers close in the page but his grandam Capricious Lady (Mister C {USA}) is well-related being a half-sister to Boisterous Lady (Rivotious {USA}) who was a nine-time winner including in the Listed Silk Stocking Handicap but she then went on to thrive as a broodmare leaving three individual Group winners including the G1 Australian Oaks winner Rena’s Lady (Arena), the Group 2 winner Vatuvei (Reset) and the Group 3 winner Raise (Arena).
Capricious Lady herself also has done well at stud leaving six individual winners with the best of them being Capricious Lad (Catbird) who was a five-time winner up to 1400 metres including at metropolitan level in Perth.
Uralla since producing Our Sniper has left a yearling colt by Satono Aladdin and was due to foal to Contributer (Ire) last spring.
Our Sniper sold for NZ$80,000 at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale with Lisa Latta Racing Stables being the successful purchaser from the draft of Mapperley Stud Ltd.
Sportsbet-Wangaratta, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Insite Real Estate Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Pub Crawl (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Almanzor {Fr} x Fun Seeker {NZ} {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
The well-bred Pub Crawl (NZ) is set to make his debut over 1000 metres for trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne at Wangaratta on Thursday. He has had plenty of jump outs and trials in preparation for his debut assignment.
Pub Crawl is by Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (Fr) and is the first live-foal from Fun Seeker (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who raced once on the track but is very well-related being a half-sister to the classy Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). She was a seven-time winner on the track including in the G1 New Zealand Stakes, G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes, G3 Waikato Gold Cup and the G2 Cal Isuzu Stakes.
Pub Crawl (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The family page has some lovely pedigree influences including Wootton Bassett (GB), Diesis (GB), Zabeel (NZ), Iffraaj (GB), Sadler’s Wells (USA), Danehill (USA), Northern Dancer (Can) and Irish River (Fr). Many of these are strong staying influences which could suggest that Pub Crawl may improve with time and distance and become a lovely later 3-year-old and older horse.
Fun Seeker since producing Pub Crawl has left a 2-year-old filly by Ribchester (Ire) named Seeking Wonderland (NZ), a yearling filly by Tarzino (NZ) and was due to foal to Circus Maximus (Ire) last November.
Pub Crawl sold for NZ$150,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale with Merrick Staunton being the successful purchaser from the draft of Cambridge Stud.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 3, 6.45pm AEDT, Shawn Mendis 3YO Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Time Lapse, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x In Her Time {Time Thief})
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Time Lapse (I Am Invincible) will have his third start at Pakenham on Thursday and on form it looks like he will be competitive after running two solid thirds in his career so far. In both starts at the Caulfield Heath and at Mornington he has led up and only faded late, if he can relax well or get a cheap sectional or two he looks hard to roll.
Time Lapse is the first foal from the super talented Time Thief filly In Her Time who won just over $3.7 million on the track including the G1 Lightning Stakes, G2 Breeders Classic, G2 Millie Fox Stakes, Listed Sydney Stakes and was placed in the G1 Sprint Classic, G1 Stradbroke Handicap, G1 Manikato Stakes, G1 Tattersall’s Classic, G1 TJ Smith Stakes, G3 Hawkesbury Crown and the G2 Premiere Stakes.
Time Lapse as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
After her outstanding racing career, In Her Time sold at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale fetching $2.2 million to the bid of Yulong Investments Australia. In Her Time over the last few seasons has produced a 2-year-old colt by Written Tycoon named Patonga, a yearling colt by Written Tycoon and most recently foaled a filly by Yulong Stud’s young-sire Diatonic (Jpn) in August before subsequently being served by Pierata in the spring.
Further back in the family features the Coolmore young sire and The Everest victor in Yes Yes Yes and the stakes-winners Hot As Hell (County), Harlem River (Fastnet Rock), Flaming Hot (County), Craig’s Dragon (Catbird) and Lempicka (Rich Enuff).
Time Lapse sold for $800,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Matt Laurie Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Yulong.
Looking Back
He's A Saint (NZ) (Tarzino) - ran a solid race for fifth at Ipswich, he got well back in the field and ran home well. It was a good run with an eye on longer distances in the future.
Climb The Ladder (NZ) (Ardrossan) - won very impressively at Sandown by a widening 4.75l, he looks a very talented galloper that will feature in better races.
Heavenly Conquest (I Am Invincible)- ran a super race for a very close-up third only being beaten 0.21l, she was attacking the line hard late and was unlucky not to win. She is clearly one to watch.
