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 racing across Australia on Thursday. A promising Capitalist 2-year-old colt looks hard to beat at Hawkesbury, and Pakenham is the venue for well-bred fillies by I Am Invincible and Spirit Of Boom to chase maiden success.
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 12.20pm AEDT, TPG Greens Grade 2YO Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1100m
Hidden Motive, 2-year-old colt (Capitalist x Secret Agenda {Not A Single Doubt})
The well-bred Hidden Motive (Capitalist) is set to have his fourth start at Hawkesbury over 1100 metres for trainer Nathan Doyle on Thursday.
He made his debut in the G3 Breeders’ Plate back in October where he ran a brave fourth behind King Kirk (Ole Kirk), then this preparation he has run two solid placings behind talented types Aerodrome (Ole Kirk) and Grand Eagle (Farnan).
His dam is Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt), who was an outstanding seven-time winner including at Group 1 level in the Robert Sangster Stakes, she also won another three Group races and a Listed event in her career.
Hidden Motive as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Secret Agenda is also a sister to Star Pauline (Not A Single Doubt) who was Group placed and a half-sister to another three stakes performers including Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun), Donandkim (Smart Missile), and Sweetener (Snitzel).
Since producing Hidden Motive, Secret Agenda has left a yearling colt by Home Affairs, a weanling filly by Zoustar, and was covered by Home Affairs before she sadly died in December last year.
Hidden Motive was purchased by Doyle Racing and Kurrinda Bloodstock for $120,000 from Cressfield at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 3, 5.45pm AEDT, Stephanie Peek takes on Sportsbet Maiden Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Biologics, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Fontein Ruby {Turffontein})
The Grahame Begg-trained I Am Invincible filly Biologics will be making her debut at Pakenham on Thursday night.
She has had a couple of quiet jump outs at Cranbourne in preparation for her debut assignment over 1200 metres.
This well-bred filly is out of the Turffontein mare Fontein Ruby, who was a six-time winner from 1200 metres to 2000 metres, including in the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes, G3 Caulfield Classic, and the Listed Alexandra Stakes.
Biologics as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has also been successful at stud leaving three individual winners including the stakes winner Parure (Fastnet Rock) who won the G2 Autumn Classic, Steamboat Rock (Fastnet Rock), and Fontaine Rouge (Justfy {USA}).
Fontein Ruby is also a half-sister to The Mitigator (Master Of Design) who was a nine-time winner including the G1 Thorndon Mile and the G3 Eagle Technology Stakes.
Since producing Biologics, Fontein Ruby has produced a yearling filly by Home Affairs, and she was most recently served by that stallion again last spring.
Biologics was a $700,000 purchase by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 4, 6.15pm AEDT, Australian Racing Tours Maiden Plate, $40,000, 1100m
Glamour Ana, 3-year-old filly (Spirit Of Boom x Ana’s Mail {Anabaa {USA}})
The well-bred Glamour Ana (Spirit Of Boom) is set to chase maiden success at Pakenham on Thursday night for trainer’s Ben, Will & JD Hayes.
She has been very consistent in her career so far placing in five of her six starts, and she deserves to break through for her first victory.
Glamour Ana is a daughter of Spirit Of Boom and is out of the Anabaa (USA) mare Ana’s Mail. She was a speedy filly winning three times over 900 metres and 1000 metres.
Glamour Ana as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She has already made her mark at stud leaving sixi ndividual winners including the talented mare She’s Ideel (Dundeel {NZ}) who was successful in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes and managed placings in the G1 Tancred Stakes, G1 Chipping Norton Stakes, and the G1 Winx Stakes Another one of her progeny is the four-time winner and Group 1 placed Elusive Treasure (Northern Meteor).
Ana’s Mail since producing Glamour Ana has left a 2-year-old colt by Toronado (Ire), a yearling filly by Dundeel (NZ), a weanling filly by So You Think (NZ), and was most recently served by Don Corleone last spring.
Looking Back
Green Spring (Lucky Vega {Ire}) - ran a super race on debut at Ipswich running second by a nose, he was in front one stride before the line and one after, but unfortunately not where it counted. He will win one at short notice.
Cold Gin (Ole Kirk) - disappointed at Kensington running seventh.
Kilkenny (I Am Invincible) - was unfortunately scratched from her race at Kensington, she will keep for another day.
