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 at Ballarat on Sunday. A Written Tycoon gelding looks very hard to beat, and a Zoustar gelding chases his second victory.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 2, 12m AEDT, Peter Tobin Funerals Maiden Plate , $50,000, 1100m
Espinho, 3-year-old gelding (Written Tycoon x The Broken Shore {Hussonet {USA}})
The beautifully-bred Espinho (Written Tycoon) is set to make his fifth start over 1100 metres at Ballarat on Sunday. His form has been solid enough, and he has raced in much stronger races including at black-type level.
Espinho is the sixth live foal from the Hussonet (USA) mare The Broken Shore. She was a metropolitan winner at 1100 metres on the track but has left a considerable mark as a broodmare leaving the three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock), the Listed winning gelding Groundswell (Fastnet Rock) and the winners Fjord (Fastnet Rock), Tides (Fastnet Rock) and Rapids (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Esphino as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Espinho's second dam is the great mare Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad) - she will forever have a lasting influence on the breed in Australasia as she left the Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice, the Group 1 winners and sires Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors, the Listed winner and sire Echoes Of Heaven, and the talented stakes-winner and stakes-producer in Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
The Broken Shore has most recently left a Maurice (Jpn) yearling colt, and was then exported to Great Britain in January this year.
Yu Long Investments (Australia), Anthony Freedman Racing, Julian Blaxland Bloodstock and ARJB Racing purchased Espinho for $950,000 from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 9, 4.25pm AEDT, All In Accounting BM64 Handicap , $50,000, 1100m
Star Rapper, 4-year-old gelding (Zoustar x Minaj (NZ) {Commands})
Ballarat’s Sunday meeting will serve as the venue for the fourth start of Star Rapper, a promising son of Zoustar that won very nicely at Wangaratta earlier this month.
He looks the kind of type that could go back-to-back after his maiden win, he has a lovely go-forward racing style, and it would be no surprise to see him very competitive up in grade.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
Star Rapper is out of the talented mare Minaj (NZ) (Commands) who was a five-time winner including twice at Listed-level. She comes from a solid American family with a good amount of black-type around.
Star Rapper was Minaj’s last foal as she died in 2022, and he was passed in short of his $80,000 reserve at the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
Looking Back
Battle Tycoon (Written Tycoon) - Ran a solid third at Ruakaka, it was a nice run and he is getting closer to a win.
Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) - Was an impressive winner at Listed level at Eagle Farm, he looks a colt with plenty of upside, and should make a lovely 3-year-old.
Loving (Bivouac) - Won nicely at Newcastle, he never looked like losing, as he led all of the way.
