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 New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. A promising Written Tycoon colt makes his debut at Ellerslie , a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt looks a good chance of tasting Listed glory at Eagle Farm, and a Toronado (Ire) chases maiden success on debut at Swan Hill.
Ellerslie, Race 2, 9.25am AEDT (11.25am local), Network Visuals 2YO, $40,000, 1200m
Battle Tycoon, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Bidding War {Snitzel})
Ellerslie’s Saturday meeting will serve as the venue for the first start of Battle Tycoon (Written Tycoon). This promising colt is trained by the in-form Stephen Marsh.
Battle Tycoon has shown some nice glimpses of ability at the trials where he has run placings at Pukekohe and on the Cambridge Synthetic, it would be no surprise if he runs a nice race on debut and he does profile as a type that will keep on improving into his 3-year-old season.
Battle Tycoon as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Battle Tycoon has a very strong female pedigree, he is the second foal of Bidding War (Snitzel) who was unraced on the track, but is a half-sister to Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer). She was a star on the track winning nine races with the best of them being the G1 Coolmore Classic.
There are plenty of talented gallopers further back in the pedigree including the Group 1 winners Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}), Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Espiona (Extreme Choice).
Bidding War since producing Battle Tycoon, has left a yearling filly by Written Tycoon, a weanling colt by Diatonic (Jpn), and is due to foal to Pierata this spring.
Battle Tycoon was purchased for $500,000 by Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) from the draft of Yulong at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Eagle Farm, Race 1, 11.08am AEDT, Nova 106.9 Show A Heart - Listed, $160,000, 1500m
Providence, 2-year-old colt (Wootton Bassett (GB) x Southbank {Fastnet Rock})
Eagle Farm’s Saturday meeting will serve as the venue for the second start of Providence, a well-bred son of Wootton Bassett (GB), trained by Chris Waller. He put in an outstanding effort to run third on debut at Randwick on May 24 behind the talented Agarwood (Wootton Bassett {GB}), in that race he settled well back and attacked the line very strongly late, the step up to 1500 metres looks like it will suit.
Providence as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Providence is out of the talented mare Southbank (Fastnet Rock), she may have only won one race but she was very classy placing in the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, and the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Providence’s grandam is Rezoned (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) she was a Group 3 winner on the track and also is a full sister to Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who was a dual Group 1 winner and now stands at stud at Brighthill Farm in New Zealand.
Southbank since producing Providene, has left a Too Darn Hot (GB) weanling filly, and was subsequently served by Zoustar last spring.
Providence was purchased for $625,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Swan Hill, Race 1, 12.06pm AEDT, Ultima Hotel 2YO Maiden Plate, $27,000, 975m
Torotena, 2-year-old gelding (Toronado (Ire) x Catena {Hinchinbrook})
The well-related Torotena (Toronado {Ire}) will be making his debut on Saturday at Swan Hill for trainer Matthew Williams. He has looked good winning a jump out at Ararat, and a trial at Horsham last month.
Torotena is the fourth foal from the Hinchinbrook mare Catena, who was placed on the track.
Toronado | Standing at Swettenham Stud
Catena is very well-related being a half-sister to Felicienne (Al Maher) who was a five-time winner including at Group 3 level, and Dylanson (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) who was a 10-time winner including in the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap and the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup.
Torotena’s third dam is Candide (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}) who was an outstanding filly winning the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the G1 New Zealand Oaks, she has also been an outstanding broodmare and many good horses descend from this influential mare.
Catena since producing Torotena, has left a yearling filly by Churchill (Ire), a weanling filly by Starspangledbanner, and is due to foal to Churchill this spring.
Torotean was most recently purchased by M J Williams Thoroughbred Training for $120,000 at the 2024 Inglis Sydney Ready to Race Sale.
Looking Back
Silvasista (Toronado {Ire}) - Ran a solid third on debut at Swan Hill, she looks like she could develop into a nice filly.
Bourbon County (Farnan) - was scratched from his event at Ipswich, he will keep for another day.
