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 Friday. A filly by Brave Smash (Jpn) is chasing maiden success on the Ballarat Synthetic track, and a Dundeel (NZ) gelding looks hard to beat resuming at Toowoomba.
Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic, Race 2, 1.30pm AEDT, Global Turf Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Brave Carol, 3-year-old filly (Brave Smash (Jpn) x Go Carol Go Manhattan Rain})
Ballarat’s Synthetic meeting on Friday will serve as the venue for the fourth start of Brave Carol, a daughter of Brave Smash (Jpn) that is trained by Andrew Noblet. She has progressively improved this preparation, and ran a solid third on the same track over 1100 metres on June 11.
Brave Carol is out of Go Carol Go (Manhattan Rain) who was a winner over 1400 metres. She comes from a solid family with a good amount of blacktype around.
Brave Carol as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Some of the stakes winners within the pedigree include her grandam Gina Lollawitcha (Perugino {USA}), Rainbiel (Toronado {Ire}), Ms Catherine (Shooting To Win), Lucky Witch (Voodoo Rhythm {USA}), Spirit Of Westbury (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), and Duke Of Westbury (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Since producing Brave Carol, Go Carol Go has left a yearling colt by Showtime, and is due to foal to Wooded (Ire) in September this spring.
Brave Carol was purchased by Andrew Noblet Racing for $30,000 from the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Toowoomba, Race 7, 8.14pm AEDT, Mort & Co QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap, $24,500, 870m
Kingsland, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel (NZ) x Serene Miss {Northern Meteor})
The well-bred Kingsland (Dundeel {NZ}) is set to make his second career start at Toowoomba on Friday night, and his first start for local trainer Troy Pascoe.
Previously, Kingsland was trained by Kris Lees, and he ran a very good third on debut at Hawkesbury over 1100 metres in November last year. This race that he is entered in is over the very short distance of 870 metres, so there is no doubt he will improve off it, but it does look a nice starting point for him.
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Kingsland is the second foal out of the well-performed Serene Miss (Northern Meteor), she was a six-time winner and won just over $560,000 on the track. She is also well-related being a half-sister to Vezalay (Shamardal {USA}) who was a Listed winner, and a subsequent $1 million purchase as a broodmare.
Further back in the family is the Group 3 winner and young sire Sun City, and the stakes winners, Royal Discretion (Royal Academy {USA}), Roulettes (Flying Spur), and Parlophone (I Am Invincible).
Serene Miss has since left a 2-year-old named Logan Downs (Shalaa {Ire}), a weanling colt by Russian Revolution, and is due to foal again to Russian Revolution in September this spring.
Looking Back
First Empire (Deep Field) - Had a nice run just behind the speed, when he got clear air, he finished strongly to score a very impressive win by nearly four lengths at Ipswich.
Regimental Colours (All Too Hard) - Was very brave winning at Hawkesbury, she led throughout. When they all challenged at the top of the straight, she looked like she may be battling, but she was too tough for them.
