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.
A daughter of The Autumn Sun bids to break through at her fourth start, and a Pierro filly aims to go back to back at Sandown.
Sportsbet Sandown, Race 1, 3.05pm, AEDT, Sportsbet Racing Form Maiden Plate, $55,000, 1300m
Suances, 3-year-old filly (The Autumn Sun x Express Street {Street Sense {USA}})
Suances, a daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s stallion The Autumn Sun, will have her fourth start at Sandown for Pakenham trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. She has run three very strong placings in her first preparation and with natural improvement from a nice break and a couple of jump-outs, she looks hard to roll, resuming at Sandown.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield
The well-bred filly is the third live foal from the Street Sense (USA) mare Express Street, who was unplaced on the track. She is very well-related being a half-sister to Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), who was successful seven times including the G1 Manikato Stakes, G1 Doomben 10,000 Stakes, and in the G1 BTC Cup. She has since become a star broodmare and has left four winners, including Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who has won Group 1s in the United States, Great Britain and France. Other stakes-winning half-siblings are Lady Dehere (NZ) (Dehere {USA}), Oratorio, and Discorsi (Galileo {Ire}).
Since producing Suances, Express Street has left a 2-year-old filly by Dundeel (NZ), a yearling filly by Pariah, a colt foal by Blue Gum Farm’s Sejardan, and was subsequently served by G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Oxley Road.
Sportsbet Sandown, Race 7, 6.30pm, AEDT, Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap, $55,000, 1500m
Pula, 3-year-old filly (Pierro x Bonaria {Redoute’s Choice})
The Danny O’Brien-trained Pula (Pierro) will make her third start at Sandown on Wednesday. She ran very well at Geelong on debut when running second on January 15 behind Arezzo (Zoustar), she was only run down late in the piece, and then she won impressively at Bendigo on February 9 over 1400 metres. She looks very capable of stepping up in grade and performing well.
Pierro | Standing at Coolmore
Pula is the fifth foal from the outstanding Redoute’s Choice mare Bonaria, who was an eight-times winner including the G1 Myer Classic, the G3 Schweppervescence Trophy twice, and the G3 Mannerism Stakes. She has already been a solid broodmare, leaving four winners including the five-time winner and the multiple Group-placed Miss Aria (Zoustar), Bonheur (I Am Invincible), Sardegna (Sebring), and Alkaamel (Sebring).
This family has so much depth to it, including Bonaria’s most prolific half-sibling the dual hemisphere Group 1 winner and stallion Merchant Navy, and the Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed mare Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock).
Other close relations are the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Joliestar (Zoustar), Group 1-winning stallion Paulele, and other stakes winners Legally Bay (Snippets), Tessera (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), Heresy (Street ,Boss {USA}), Setanta (Fastnet Rock), Hindaam (Fastnet Rock), Ebhaar (I Am Invincible) and Time Out (Snippetson).
Bonaria, since producing Pula, has left a yearling colt by Zoustar, who was purchased at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing, Kestrel Thoroughbreds, and Kia Ora Stud for $800,000 from the draft of Widden Stud. Most recently she was served again by Zoustar.
Looking Back
Heavenly Way (Deep Field) - an impressive 2.25l winner at Ararat, leading for the majority of the run. One to watch over the next few starts as well.
Fast Track (So You Think {NZ}) - a strong winner on debut, defeating the more seasoned Twinkling Star (Zoustar) with aplomb. Has more to give.
