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 Australia on Thursday. A Pierro mare chases maiden success at Wangaratta, a well-bred Written Tycoon colt out of a Group 1 winner makes his debut on the Randwick-Kensington course, and a progressive Savabeel gelding resumes at Pakenham.
Sportsbet-Wangaratta, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Mulwala Ski Club F&M Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1590m
The Right Page, 4-year-old mare (Pierro x Fill The Page {Dane Shadow})
The Right Page, a daughter of Coolmore Stud’s Pierro, will make her second start at Wangaratta over 1590 metres on Thursday for in-form trainer Dominic Sutton. This mare ran a solid fifth on the same track on February 16 behind Sea Strike (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) over 1612 metres.
She is the fifth live foal from Fill The Page (Dane Shadow), she was a four-time winner from 1300 metres to 2000 metres including in the Listed Canberra Cup.
The Right Page as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has then went on to become a very handy broodmare leaving four individual winners. The best of these have been Fun Fact (The Factor {USA}) who has been a eight-time winner and successful at Group 3 and Listed level, Tamasa (So You Think {NZ}) has won five times and been Group 3 placed, and Son Of Emperor (So You Think {NZ}) and Sailors Book (Merchant Navy) have also been winners.
Fill The Page since producing The Right Page has left a 2-year-old filly by Maurice (Jpn) named Morisu Ojo, and a colt foal by Home Affairs last spring.
The Right Page was a $200,000 purchase by Bennett Racing from the draft of Edinburgh Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Randwick-Kensington, Race 2, 1.50pm AEDT, Ranvet Maiden Handicap, $60,000, 1000m
Grand Prairie, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Viddora {I Am Invincible})
The well-bred Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon), is set to make his debut over 1000 metres for Randwick trainer Peter Snowden on his home track on Thursday. He has trialled nicely in preparation for his debut, with his latest effort being a tidy second behind Nullarbor Jane (Too Darn Hot {GB}) over 1050 metres at Randwick on February 24.
Grand Prairie is the second live foal from the talented sprinter Viddora (I Am Invincible), she won nine times on the track, and those wins included the G1 AJ Moir Stakes and the G1 Winterbottom Stakes.
Grand Prairie as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Grand Prairie's grandam is Snow Flight (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) who has been a very consistent producer leaving seven winners. Aside from leaving the aforementioned Viddora, she has left the winners Relentless Me (Statue Of Liberty {USA}), Jump’n Fly (I Am Invincible), Jenni The Jet (Hellbent), Shadow Chaser (Super One), Magnaflight (Magnus) and Snowplough (Fiorente {Ire}).
Since producing Grand Prairie, Viddora foaled a filly by Diatonic (Jpn) in September last spring and was subsequently served by Pierata.
Grand Prairie was passed in short of his $500,000 reserve at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 3, 6.45pm AEDT, Greenway Turf Solutions Maiden Plate, $40,000, 1400m
Scintillante (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Savabeel x Glistening {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The Cliff Brown-trained Scintillante (NZ) (Savabeel) will make his fourth start over 1400 metres at Pakenham on Thursday. He ran well in all three starts in his first preparation, never finishing further back then fourth. He looks to have taken benefit from a break and has been gelded. Subsequently he has won a jump-out at Caulfield on March 5 in stylish fashion.
Scintillante is the third foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Glistening (NZ), who was unraced on the track.
Scintillante (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Glistening is well-related being a sister to Multifacets (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who was a six-time winner and Group-placed on the track, a three-quarter sister to the classy nine-time winner and Listed Rotorua Stakes victor in Glitzy (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and the listed-placed Samburu (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). In addition to these close relations, she is a half-sister to Savapinski (NZ) (Savabeel) who was successful in the G2 Matriarch Stakes.
The Savabeel/O’Reilly cross has had outstanding success with 178 individual winners at a 76 per cent winners to runners ratio and an impressive 34 stakes-winners, 10 individual Group 1 winners and a 14 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. The headline acts with this cross include the Group 1 winners Orchestral (NZ), Embellish (NZ), Costume (NZ), Diademe (NZ), Savaria (NZ), Mo’unga (NZ), Major Beel (NZ), The Perfect Pink (NZ), Savaglee (NZ) and Amrelinha (NZ).
Glistening since producing Scintillante has left a yearling colt by Savabeel, a colt foal by Savabeel, and was subsequntly served by Noverre (NZ).
Scintillante sold for $120,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Yearling Sale with Cliff Brown Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Sledmere Stud.
Looking Back
Miss Alexis (Dundeel {NZ}) - won nicely at Sandown, she was tough late and she looks like she has plenty of her dams staying ability. She should only get better over further.
Facilitate (Capitalist) - was scratched from his race, he will keep for another day.
Conscience (Snitzel) - was very impressive winning on debut at Sandown, she attacked the line strongly from well back in the field. She looks a very promising filly.
