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 horses are hitting the track across Australia on Tuesday. A well-bred Trapeze Artist gelding looks hard to beat at Geelong and a Pride Of Dubai mare chases maiden success at Wagga.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 2, 1pm, AEDT, Geelong Chamber of Commerce Maiden Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Quello Dorato, 3-year-old gelding (Trapeze Artist x Bella Orfana {Star Witness})
Thursday’s Geelong meeting will be the venue for the Danny O’Brien trained Quello Dorato (Trapeze Artist) to make his third start. At his two previous starts he has ran two solid thirds, since then he has had a break, and trialled nicely in preparation for this resuming run.
Quello Dorato is by Widden Stud’s sire Trapeze Artist and is out of the Star Witness mare Bella Orfana who was placed at Geelong during her brief racing career.
Quello Dorato as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has already made a great start to her broodmare leaving the super classy and tough sprinter Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) who was a four-time Group 1 winner and recently sold for $4.2 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale. Bella Sorellina (Capitalist) is her other runner to race and she won three times over sprint distances in Melbourne and managed a city placing at Moonee Valley.
Bella Orfana also has the mantle of being a three-quarter-sister to the talented mare Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) who was successful in the G2 Gilgai Stakes and the Listed Darby Munro Stakes, she was also placed in the G1 Flight Stakes, G1 TJ Smith Stakes, G1 Patinack Classic, and the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Another half-sister is Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}) who was also a smart sprinter who was the victor in the G3 Champion Fillies Stakes in Perth, she has went on to become a successful broodmare leaving four individual winners including Brereton (Zoustar) who cost $1,000,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before he gained success in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate.
Quello Dorato was a $280,000 purchase by O’Brien Thoroughbreds (Aust) Pty Ltd from the draft of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Wagga, Race 4, 2.40pm AEDT, Lime Leaf Catering Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1300m
Deflector, 4-year-old mare (Pride Of Dubai x Lucky Helmet {Helmet})
The well-bred Deflector (Pride Of Dubai), is set to have her fifth start at Wagga on Thursday over 1300 metres for local-trainer Gary Colvin
She has run two nice placings at her last starts at Wagga and Corowa and is getting closer to a win.
Deflector as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Deflector is the first foal from the two-time winner Lucky Helmet (Helmet), who is well related being a half-sister to the three-time Group winner Flying Mascot (NZ), and a three-quarter-sister to the Listed winner Koala Bear (Exceed And Excel).
In recent times Lucky Helmet has produced yearling and weanling colts by Admire Mars (Jpn), and was subsequently served last spring by Hitotsu.
Deflector was a $100,000 purchase by Gary Colvin from the draft of Davali Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Mediterra (Snitzel) - was unfortunately scratched from her event, she will keep for another day.
Regimental Colours (All Too Hard) - won very impressively at Warwick Farm, she charged home from last to score in the last stride at good odds.
Mortal Halo (Better Than Ready) - Ran a very good second at Doomben, he charged home late and looks like he could improve over more ground.
