Looking Ahead highlights runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are an exceptionally well-bred or high-priced runner early in their career chasing maiden success, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse that 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 Friday. A promising Capitalist gelding looks ready to win at Terang, a talented Zousain colt resumes at Scone, and a well-bred Darci Brahma (NZ) filly makes her debut at Cranbourne.
Bet 365 Terang, Race 3, 2.20pm AEDT, Terang Co-Op Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Watch Capital, 3-year-old gelding (Capitalist x Fast And Loose {Fastnet Rock})
Watch Capital, a son of an excellent speed influence in Capitalist, will make his second start at Terang, for Ballarat trainer Mitchell Freedman over 1000 metres. On debut, he ran a great race at Yarra Valley, for third behind I’m Back In Town (Showtime) on February 22 over 1000 metres.
Watch Capital as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This sharply-bred gelding is the sixth live-foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Fast And Loose, who was a winner at 1100 metres and was classy enough to run fourth in the Listed Queen Adelaide Stakes.
She has proven to be a reliable broodmare, having left four winners, including Santorini Summer (Eurozone), Shootoose (Shooting To Win), Gunshot Glitter (Spirit Of Boom), and Bonito (I Am Invincible).
There are some talented Group winners within this pedigree, including Catapulted (Catbird), Jestatune (Rory’s Jester), Itsahymn (Ihtiram {Ire}), Jukebox and Bruckner.
Fast And Loose, since producing Watch Capital, has left a 2-year-old colt by Farnan and was most recently served by Paulele.
Watch Capital, was a $110,000 purchase by Mitch Freedman Racing from the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from the draft of Mill Park Stud.
Scone, Race 3, 2.24pm AEDT, Vinery 2YO Open Showcase Handicap, $30,000, 1000m
Buckeye, 2-year-old colt (Zousain x Miss Amelia {More Than Ready {USA}})
The well-related Buckeye (Zousain) is set to make his second start for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton at Scone on Friday.
Buckeye only ran sixth, beaten 2.41l on debut at Rosehill on November 24, but when you look back now, the form is very strong. The winner that day was The Playwright (Written By), and the runner-up was Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}), while the fourth place-getter was Gallo Nero (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
The Playwright and Icarian Dream have both become subsequent Group winners, and Gallo Nero was placed in the R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Buckeye as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The well-related colt is the second foal out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Miss Amelia, who was a three-time winner, and has started her broodmare career in great fashion, with her first foal being the Group 3 winner Amelita (Zousain).
Buckeye’s grandam was the smart 2-year-old Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice). She won the G2 Silver Slipper and went on to leave nine winners at stud, including two that placed at Listed level.
Since producing Buckeye, Miss Amelia has left a yearling filly by Zousain ,and was most recently served by Zousain, before being exported to New Zealand in 2024, where no mare returns have been received.
Buckeye was a $200,000 purchase by John O’Shea Racing, and James Bester Bloodstock from the draft of Cressfield at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Cranbourne, Race 3, 7.15pm AEDT, Core Protective Group Maiden Plate, $40,000, 1400m
Lady Brightside (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Darci Brahma {NZ} x Lilahjay {NZ} {Tavistock {NZ}})
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Lady Brightside (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) will make her debut on her home track on Friday. She has looked useful at the Cranbourne jump-outs and won her last one on March 3.
Lady Brightside is the sixth foal from the Tavistock (NZ) mare Lilahjay (NZ), she was unraced on the track, but has gone on to excel as a broodmare leaving five winners.
Lady Brightside (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The best of them has clearly been the superstar Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), he is now a nine-time Group 1 winner and has won a tick-over $17.3 million on the track.
Since producing Lady Brightside, Lilahjay has produced a 2-year-old filly by Darci Brahma (NZ) and a colt foal by Satono Aladdin (JPN) before sadly passing away.
Busuttin Racing and First Light Racing purchased Lady Brightside, from the draft of Landsdowne Park at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale for NZ$70,000.
Looking Back
Federalist (I Am Invincible) ran fifth on debut at Newcastle, but he went around untested, had no luck at all, and it looked like a forget run.
Bohemian Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) - looked likely at Pakenham half way down the straight, but she was wide throughout and peaked on her run, she ended up running a solid fourth.
El Tercero (NZ) (Super Seth) - won nicely at Pakenham, he looks like he has a good amount of talent, and may improve even more over a bit further.
