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 running across Australia on Saturday. A well-bred gelding by Justify (USA) resumes at Rosehill, and exciting juveniles by I Am Invincible and Peltzer chase success at Flemington.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 4, 12.50pm AEDT, The Agency Real Estate Handicap, $160,000, 1300m
Gatekeeper, 3-year-old gelding (Justify (USA) x Nakeeta Jane {So You Think {NZ}})
The Chris Waller-trained Justify (USA) gelding Gatekeeper will be making his second start at Rosehill on Saturday. He won very nicely on debut at Canterbury back in January, and he has had a couple of trials at Rosehill and Warwick Farm in preparation for his resuming run.
This well-bred gelding is out of the So You Think (NZ) mare Nakeeta Jane, who was a three-time winner from 1200 metres to 1400 metres including in the G1 Surround Stakes, and the G2 Light Fingers Stakes. She also showed her class placing in the G1 Flight Stakes, and the G1 Randwick Guineas.
Gatekeeper as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Gatekeeper’s grandam Lustre Lady (Flying Spur) was also a handy mare winning twice and placing in the G2 Breeders Classic, Listed Angst Stakes, and the Listed Belle Of The Turf Stakes. She has also been a solid producer at stud leaving six individual winners.
Since producing Gatekeeper, Nakeeta Jane has produced a 2-year-old colt and a yearling colt both by Wootton Bassett (GB), and then was exported to America in April last year where she was served by Justify in September.
Gatekeeper was a $700,000 purchase by Guy Mulcaster and Chris Waller Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Flemington, Race 1, 11.55am AEDT, TAB Next Gen 2YO Sprinters Series Final, $150,000, 1200m
Jimmy Recard, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Aquamosa (NZ) {Alamosa {NZ}})
Flemington's Saturday meeting will serve as the venue for the third start in the career of Jimmy Recard, a well-bred son of I Am Invincible from the Ciaron Maher stable. He won very nicely at Gosford at his last start, and he looks capable of stepping up to Saturday class.
Jimmy Recard is the fourth foal out of the handy filly Aquamosa (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}). She was successful twice at 1100 and 1400 metres, and also managed to place in the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic as a juvenile.
Jimmy Recard has some solid blood within his pedigree, his second-dam Adalia (NZ) was a two-time winner and is a half-sister to the Singapore Champion Big Maverick (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), and El Laoob (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}) who was stakes-placed in Great Britain.
Jimmy Recard as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Adalia’s dam Ajfan (USA) (Woodman {USA}) was Group 1 placed in the Ascot Fillies Mile, and the Thousand Guineas in Great Britain and did a great job at stud leaving ten winners.
Aquamosa since producing Jimmy Recard, has left an I Am Invincible yearling filly, and she carried on the ‘Vinny’ theme producing a Hellbent weanling filly and is due to foal again to Hellbent this spring.
Jimmy Recard was a $350,000 purchase by Bennett Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Flemington, Race 2, 12.30pm AEDT, Listed Taj Rossi 2YO Series Final, $175,000, 1600m
Buccleuch, 2-year-old gelding (Peltzer x Golden Fastnet (Fr) {Fastnet Rock})
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Buccleuch (Peltzer) will take the next step in his career, when he lines up in Listed company in the Taj Rossi Series Final over 1600 metres at Flemington on Saturday.
The progressive gelding was an impressive winner over 1400 metres at the same track on June 21, defeating Arcora (Justify {USA}), having also scored at Echuca at his previous start. He clearly looks the standout runner in this field, and shapes as a major chance to become the first stakes winner for his promising young sire, Peltzer, who stands at Twin Hills Stud.
Peltzer | Standing at Twin Hills Stud
Buccleuch hails from a strong international family, being the fourth foal out of Golden Fastnet (Fr) (Fastnet Rock), a dual winner and Listed placegetter in France. She is a half-sister to Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a Group 3 and Listed winner who also placed in both the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, and the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
Since foaling Buccleuch, Golden Fastnet has produced a yearling colt by Hallowed Crown, and a weanling filly by Prized Icon, before she sadly died in November last year.
Looking Back
Brave Carol (Brave Smash {Jpn}) - Won nicely on the Ballarat Synthetic track, she deserved that maiden win.
Kingsland (Dundeel {NZ}) - Was late scratched at the gates at Toowoomba, he will have to wait for another day.
