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 at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday. A well-bred Dundeel (NZ) chases maiden success, and in the 2-year-old race, an expensive Snitzel filly goes head-to-head with a promising Capitalist colt.
Sportsbet Sandown Hillside, Race 1, 3.05pm AEDT, Sportsbet Jockey Watch Maiden Plate, $55,000, 1600m
Miss Alexis, 3-year-old filly (Dundeel {NZ} x Jameka {Myboycharlie {Ire}})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Miss Alexis (Dundeel {NZ}) will travel to Sandown on Wednesday to make her third start over 1600 metres. On debut at Pakenham on January 23, she ran a solid fourth behind Storm Ahead (Trapeze Artist) and then she ran another okay fourth at Moonee Valley behind Rip ‘N’ Rip (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) on February 14.
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Miss Alexis is the third foal from the outstanding staying Myboycharlie (Ire) mare Jameka, she was a star on the track managing six wins, and all of these were in stakes races, including the G1 Caulfield Cup, G1 BMW Stakes, G1 VRC Oaks, G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, G2 Dilmah Vase Stakes and the G3 Naturalism Stakes.
She has already had success at stud leaving the two-time metropolitan winner in Sir Bailey (Impending), who has also ran fourth in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude and the Listed Valley Pearl Stakes, and the promising dual winner Federer (Dundeel {NZ}).
Jameka, since producing Miss Alexis, has produced a 2-year old filly named Adira River (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and she was most recently served by Anamoe last spring.
Sportsbet Sandown Hillside, Race 2, 3.40pm AEDT, Ive >2YO Handicap, $55,000, 1000m
Facilitate, 2-year-old colt (Capitalist x Medic {Snitzel})
Sandown’s Wednesday meeting will be the venue for the second start of Facilitate (Capitalist). This promising juvenile ran a very good second at Moonee Valley on debut on February 21 behind Eternal Darkness (I Am Immortal).
The sharply-bred colt is the first foal from the Snitzel mare Medic, who was placed on the track.
Facilitate as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Medic is very well-related being a Full sister to Estijaab and Remarque, Estijaab was successful in the G1 Golden Slipper and the G2 Reisling Stakes, while Remarque won the G3 Concorde Stakes amongst his five wins up to 1200 metres.
Facilitate’s grandam is the super talented sprinter Response (Charge Forward), she was successful four times with her major wins being in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, G1 Robert Sangster Stakes and the G3 Matron Stakes.
Medic, since producing Facilitate has produced a yearling filly by Ole Kirk, foaled a Maurice (Jpn) filly last August and was subsequently served by Newhaven Park’s Mo’unga (NZ) last spring.
Facilitate sold for $370,000 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with Baystone Farm being the successful purchaser from the draft of Newhaven Park.
Sportsbet Sandown Hillside, Race 2, 3.40pm AEDT, Ive >2YO Handicap, $55,000, 1000m
Conscience, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x In Times Of War {Street Cry {Ire}})
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Conscience (Snitzel) will make her debut over 1200 metres at Sandown on Wednesday. This promising filly ran a nice second at the Cranbourne trials on February 24 behind Apres (Flying Artie).
This well-related filly is the fourth foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare In Times Of War, who was a three-time winning sprinter. She has proven to be a very good broodmare on the track and commercially, leaving three winners and having success in the sales ring. Her best runner is the quality Zoustar colt, Espionage. He cost the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership $1 million from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has since won the G3 Kindergarten Stakes and the G3 Breeders’ Plate.
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield
In Times Of War’s second dam is the General Nediym mare Military Rose, she was a very quick filly, winning six-times including five of them as a juvenile. Her wins included the G2 Reisling Stakes, G3 Gold Coast Guineas, the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Listed BJ McLachlan Stakes, and the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes.
Conscience was a $1.4 million purchase by TFI, Moody Racing, and James Harron Bloodstock from the draft of Baramul Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Since producing Conscience, In Times Of War has left a yearling colt by Zoustar and foaled a Zoustar filly last spring.
Looking Back
The Benalla meeting was unfortunately abandoned due to track conditions, The Right Page (Pierro) and Suances (The Autumn Sun) will keep for another day.
