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 looking for success across Australia on Wednesday. A well-bred Alabama Express filly is chasing maiden success at Sandown, then Alabama Express and I Am Invincible fillies chase success at Warwick Farm.
Sportsbet Sandown Lakeside, Race 1, 12.25pm AEDT, Sportsbet Jockey Watch 2YO Fillies Handicap, $50,000, 1300m
Imzada, 2-year-old filly (Alabama Express x Cerberus Gal {General Nediym})
The Leon, Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained and Yulong Investments bred and part-owned Imzada (Alabama Express) will be having her third start at Sandown on Wednesday.
She has only had two starts and ran sixth in both of them, but they have been in very strong company and she should enjoy the step back in grade here.
Imzada as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This well-bred filly is out of the General Nediym mare Cerberus Gal, who was a 3-time winner and was placed in the G2 Yallambee Classic, Listed Dermody Lightning Stakes, G3 Spring Stakes, and the G3 RN Irwin Stakes.
Cerberus Gal has went on to be a very good producer leaving seven individual winners. The best of these has been the talented Irukandji (Dundeel {NZ}), who was a 3-time winner including in the G3 Schweppervescence Handicap.
Since Producing Imzada, Cerberus Gal has produced a a yearling colt by Tagaloa, a weanling filly by Alabama Express, and interestingly was served by Diatonic (Jpn) to Northern Hemisphere time in late March earlier this year.
Warwick Farm, Race 1, 12.50pm AEDT, Captivant @ Kia Ora Maiden 3YO Plate, $100,000, 1200m
From The Peak, 3-year-old filly (Alabama Express x Andes {Street Cry {Ire}})
The Yulong Investments bred and owned Alabama Express filly, From The Peak will be making her second start at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, she was originally scheduled to run at the Beaumont Newcastle meeting on Tuesday, but that meeting was abandoned .
She ran a very good race for second on debut at Newcastle back in March, and after a short break, and a couple of trials, she looks well-placed to run well resuming.
From The Peak as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
From The Peak is out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Andes, she only raced once, but has started her broodmare career well. Her first foal Mountain Range (Teofilo {Ire}) has been a winner, and her third foal, Pharari (American Pharoah {USA}) has been a four-time winner and Listed-placed.
There are a range of international Group winners throughout the pedigree including Aramco (Poet’s Voice {GB}), In The Wings (GB), High Hawk (Ire) (Shirley Heights {GB}), Hunting Hawk (Ire) and Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}).
Since producing From The Peak, Andes has produced a 2-year-old filly by Written Tycoon, and is due to foal to Tagaloa in September this spring.
From The Peak was offered at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, but was passed in short of her $120,000 reserve.
Warwick Farm, Race 2, 1.25pm AEDT, Asahi Super Dry Maiden 2YO Fillies Plate, $60,000, 1200m
Ernaux, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Booker {Written Tycoon})
The Chris Waller-trained Ernaux (I Am Invincible) will make her fourth start at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. She ran a sold fourth behind the classy Wootton Lass (Wootton Bassett {GB}) on debut, ran a very good second behind Penpal (Written By) at Warwick Farm on June 4, and was solid again running third behind Kakadu Sunset (Extreme Choice) at her last start at Canterbury.
Ernaux is the second foal from the outstanding Written Tycoon mare Booker, she was a four-time winner and her wins included the G1 Oakleigh Plate, G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, and the G3 Kevin Hayes Stakes.
Ernaux as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Booker is also very well-related being a full sister to the young Waikato Stud stallion Banquo, he was a handy colt wining at Listed level and being multiple times group placed.
Booker since leaving Ernaux, has left a yearling colt by Home Affairs, and she was exported to America, and was served by Justify (USA) in September and is due to foal this spring.
Ernaux was a $3 Million purchase by Resolute Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
From The Peak (Alabama Express) - The Newcastle meeting was abandoned, instead she is scheduled to take her place at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, as Looking Ahead selected above.
Kazza Joy (Blue Point {Ire}) - ran a solid fourth on the Ballarat Synthetic, she ran on strongly and it looked like more ground may suit.
