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 running across Australia on Saturday. A well-bred gelding by Super Seth chases maiden success at Kembla Grange, and a very exciting Ghaiyyath (Ire) colt chases win number two at Flemington.
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 11.50am AEDT, Celly Off The Blocks Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1600m
So Long Farewell (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Super Seth x Sound Of Music (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The well-related So Long Farewell (NZ) is set to make his fourth start at Kembla Grange over 1600 metres for trainer Ciaron Maher.
His form is pretty solid, he has run in the top four of all three of his starts, including a solid second on the Kensington track two starts ago.
So Long Farewell is a son of Waikato Stud’s exciting Super Seth and is out of the the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Sound Of Music (NZ) who only raced twice on the track.
Super Seth | Standing at Waikato Stud
She has a very solid pedigree and some of the stakes winners that feature include Do Ra Mi (NZ) (Savabeel), Unique Jewellery (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), Marju Snip (NZ) (Marju {Ire}), and Candide (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}).
So Long Farewell was withdrawn from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Ready To Run Sale.
Flemington, Race 1, 11.55am AEDT, TAB We’re On, $150,000, 1420m
Observer, 2-year-old colt (Ghaiyaath {Ire} x Smooth {Lonhro})
The talented James Cummings-trained Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) is chasing his second win at Flemington on Saturday, after making quite a statement when smashing his opposition by five lengths at Sandown over 1400 metres on June 4.
Ghaiyyath (Ire) was a top-class stayer in Europe, winning four Group 1 races including the Eclipse Stakes, International Stakes, Coronation Cup and the Grosser Preis von Baden, all of these races were between 2000 and 2400 metres.
Ghaiyyath (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Observer comes from a very strong family. He is the third foal from Smooth (Lonhro), an unraced full sister to Pierro, the Champion 2-year-old who won the G1 Golden Slipper among five Group 1 victories and has gone on to be a top-class sire with six individual Group 1 winners to date.
Smooth has made an outstanding start to her stud career, with all three of her runners being winners. Her first foal Sandpaper (Snitzel) is a six-time winner, including the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes and the Listed Gothic Stakes, and her second foal Mellifluent (Exceed And Excel) has won twice, including a metropolitan juvenile race in Sydney.
Since producing Observer, Smooth has delivered a weanling colt by Anamoe for Godolphin, and is due to foal to Cylinder this spring.
Looking Back
Navy Nina (NZ) (Proisir) - was slightly disappointing running a distant fourth at Geelong.
Ekanite (Rubick) - Was unfortunately scratched from his event at Geelong, he will keep for another day.
