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.
Two exciting runners are looking for success across Australia on Sunday. A well-bred Justify (USA) gelding chases maiden success at Dalby, and a promising Deep Field filly looks hard to beat at Kembla Grange.
Dalby, Race 2, 1.17pm AEDT, Bob Laffy Colts, Geldings and Entires Maiden Plate, $22,000, 1200m
French Empire, 3-year-old gelding (Justify (USA) x Champagne Cuddles {Not A Single Doubt})
The Rob and Annabel Archibald-trained French Empire (Justify {USA}) will be chasing maiden success at Dalby over 1200 metres on Tuesday. He has been consistent in his career, placing four times, and looks well-placed to run well resuming in this event.
French Empire is the first foal from the Not A Single Doubt mare Champagne Cuddles, whose four wins included the G2 Breeders Classic and the G3 Gold Coast Guineas. She also managed placings in the G1 Golden Rose Stakes, G1 Flight Stakes, G1 Stradbroke Handicap, and the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.
French Empire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This family has so much depth to it; French Empire’s grandam Sky Cuddle (Snippets) was also a very good race mare. She was a six-time winner from 1200 metres to 1600 metres, crowned by in the G1 Emirates Stakes.
Champagne Cuddles sold at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale fetching $2 million to the bid of Tom Magnier. Since producing French Empire, has left a 2-year-old filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) named Bottles Of Shells, and has since been exported to America to go and visit Justify (USA) in September last year.
French Empire was purchased from the Coolmore Stud draft for $700,000 to Kia Ora Stud, TFI, and Annabel Neasham Racing from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 2, 1.10pm AEDT, Join The Warra Club Today Provincial Maiden Handicap, $45,000, 1300m
Bohemian Art, 3-year-old filly (Deep Field x Your Life Style {Hussonet {USA}})
The Nathan Doyle-trained Bohemian Art will make her third start at Kembla Grange on Tuesday. She ran a very good second on debut at Newcastle on April 26 behind Impressionism (Churchill {Ire}) before she only battled when running fifth second-up.
Deep Field | Standing at Newgate Stud
The promising filly is by Deep Field and is the eighth foal from the Hussonet (USA) mare Your Life Style, who was unraced on the track, but her pedigree is top-class as illustrated by being a $1.2 million purchase by Newgate Farm at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
She has left three winners including the eight-time winner Cafe Royal (Snitzel) who was also placed in the Listed Silk Stocking Handicap.
Your Life Style is three-quarter-sister to the dam of three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and the Listed-winning gelding Groundswell (Fastnet Rock). She is also a half-sister to Precious Lorraine (Encosta De Lago) who was successful in the G3 South Australia Fillies Classic, and the Listed winner Lucky Raquie (Encosta De Lago).
Your Life Style since producing Bohemian Art has left a yearling colt by Capitalist and a weanling colt by Russian Revolution.
Looking Back
Sunday 1/6/25
Raging Force (Cosmic Force) - led all the way to win impressively at Muswellbrook, he looks like he will feature in much better races.
Taste of Wine (Pierro) - was disappointing running sixth at Moe.
