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 runners will be racing at Canterbury on Wednesday. Promising 2-year-olds by Ole Kirk and Snitzel are running, and a talented The Autumn Sun filly also looks to break through for her first victory.
Canterbury, Race 1, 12.10pm AEDT, Drinkwise Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1100m
Cold Gin, 2-year-old filly (Ole Kirk x Saas Fee {All Too Hard})
Cold Gin, a daughter of Ole Kirk, will make her second career start for trainer Bjorn Baker at Canterbury over 1100 metres on Wednesday.
She has only had one start so far in her career and that was on April 16 when she ran a solid enough sixth on debut at Warwick Farm behind Perle De Chocolat (Astern).
This promising filly is the first foal from Saas Fee (All Too Hard), she was a two-time winner on the track and placed in the G3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes.
Cold Gin as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She is a half-sister to the talented seven-time and Group 3-winning gelding Hard Landing (All Too Hard), and is out of the super talented filly Switzerland (Snitzel). She was victorious in the G1 Lightning Stakes as well as another five Group races.
Saas Fee has since produced a yearling filly named Viva Invincible (I Am Invincible), a weanling colt by Exceedance, and was most recently served by Ole Kirk last spring.
Cold Gin was purchased for $300,000 by Darby Racing and Deburgh Equine and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Canterbury, Race 2, 12.45pm AEDT, Ole Kirk @ Vinery Stud Maiden Handicap, $60,000, 1100m
Agent Zero, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Benitoite {Americain {USA}})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Agent Zero (Snitzel) will make his debut at Canterbury on Wednesday over 1100 metres.
He has looked talented at the trials, winning at the Kembla Grange trials on April 7 over 800 metres, and running a tidy second at the Warwick Farm trials on April 17, behind race rival Fernweh (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}).
Agent Zero is by the outstanding Snitzel and is the first foal out of the talented mare, Benitoite (Americain {USA}). She was a five-time winner and placed fourth in the G1 Coolmore Classic.
Agent Zero as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Agent Zero’s grandam is The Gem (Scenic {Ire}), she was a four-time winner and was Listed-placed, she is also a half-sister to Market Price (Scenic {Ire}) who won two Group 2 races and three Listed races.
Benitoite has since produced a yearling colt by Farnan, a weanling colt by Dundeel (NZ), and was most recently served by Stay Inside last spring.
Agent Zero was purchased for $500,000 by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Canterbury, Race 3, 1.20pm AEDT, Broadsiding @ Darley Maiden Handicap, $100,000, 1550m
Tempranillo, 3-year-old filly (The Autumn Sun x Pierrocity {Pierro})
The Chris Waller-trained Tempranillo (The Autumn Sun) will make her third start at Canterbury over 1550 metres on Wednesday. She ran a solid fifth on debut at Kensington behind the talented Meridiana (NZ) (Preferment {NZ}), and then backed up that effort with a nice second at Newcastle on April 12 behind Sisu Spirit (Trapeze Artist).
The promising filly is the first foal from the four-time winning Pierro mare Pierrocity, she also ran fourth in the G2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie.
Tempranillo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This family has so much depth to it, Tempranillo’s grandam is Dane Ripper (Danehill {USA}), she was a star on the track winning 12 times from 1000 metres to 2050 metres, including the G1 Australian Cup, G1 WS Cox Plate, G1 Manikato Stakes and the G1 Stradbroke Handicap. She has gone onto leave six winners including the stakes-placed Switchblade (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) and Star Ripper (Encosta De Lago).
Pierrocity has since produced a 2-year-old filly named Peccavi (The Autumn Sun), and yearling and weanling colts by Maurice (Jpn).
Tempranillo was purchased for $270,000 by Damien Fitton and Chris Waller Racing from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Buttercup (Territories {Ire}) ran a brave race on debut, she only peaked late and ended up finishing fifth, she will improve off that effort.
Romantic Miss (Toronado {Ire}) disappointed running seventh.
