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. At Kensington 2-year-olds by Written Tycoon and Exceed And Excel are chasing maiden success, while at Sandown, a promising Almanzor (Fr) gelding makes his debut.
Kensington, Race 2, 1.25pm AEDT, TAB 2YO C&G Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1100m
Grand Prairie, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Viddora {I Am Invincible})
The well-bred Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon), is set to make his third start over 1100 metres for Randwick trainer Peter Snowden at Kensington on Wednesday. He had two runs on this track during his first preparation where he ran a very good second on debut and another nice fourth. After a break he has trialled twice in preparation for his resuming run, and looked good winning his last one at Hawkesbury earlier this month.
Grand Prairie as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Grand Prairie is the second live-foal from the talented sprinter Viddora (I Am Invincible), she won nine times on the track including the G1 AJ Moir Stakes and the G1 Winterbottom Stakes.
His grandam is Snow Flight (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) who has been a very consistent producer leaving seven winners.
Since producing Grand Prairie, Viddora has left a weanling filly by Diatonic (Jpn), and is due to foal by Pierata this spring.
Grand Prairie was passed in short of his $500,000 reserve at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Kensington, Race 3, 2pm AEDT, Drinkwise 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1100m
Charka, 2-year-old filly (Exceed And Excel x Handspun {Bernardini {USA})
The promising Charka (Exceed And Excel) is set to have her third start for Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings at Kensington on Wednesday, after running good thirds at Newcastle and Hawkesbury in her career so far.
Exceed And Excel | Image courtesy of Darley
Charka is a daughter of Darley’s outstanding and now pensioned sire Exceed And Excel, and is the first foal from the Bernardini (USA) mare Handspun. She was talented on the track winning five races and just over $300,000 in prize money.
Charka’s pedigree is a bit quiet in terms of close-up black type, but her third dam is In A Bound (Ashkalani {Ire}) who was a very talented mare winning five times including the G2 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Handspun since producing Charka, has produced a yearling filly named Handloom (Exceed And Excel), a weanling colt by Bivouac, and is due to foal to Victor Ludorum (GB) early November this year.
Sportsbet Sandown Hillside, Race 2, 1pm, AEDT, Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives 2YO Handicap, $50,000, 1300m
Regal Definition (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Almanzor (Fr) x Shenandoah (NZ) {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
Regal Definition (NZ), a son of Cambridge Stud’s stallion Almanzor (Fr) will make his first start at Sandown on Wednesday for Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. He has shown glimpses of talent in his jump outs at Cranbourne, and has placed in his last two jump outs over 1000 metres.
This promising gelding is the fourth foal from the Darci Brahma (NZ) mare Shenandoah (NZ), who was a handy mare winning twice and managing a placing in the G2 Queen Of The South Stakes in Adelaide.
Regal Definition as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She has started her broodmare career off well, leaving three winners including When Stars Align (Zoustar) who was a winner as a juvenile, and stakes placed in the G3 Barneswood Farm Stakes.
Shenandoah is also a half-sister to Minaj (NZ) (Commands) who was a dual Listed winner, and is out of Ms Seneca Rock (USA) (Seneca Jones {USA}) who was a Listed winner in America.
Shenandoah since producing Regal Definition, has left a weanling colt by Dundeel (NZ), and is due to foal to Proisir in October this year.
Regal Definition was passed in short of his NZ$50,000 reserve at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Zoucat (Zoustar) - Ran an honest second on the Ballarat Synthetic.
Wetumpka (Alabama Express) - Was unfortunately scratched from his race, he actually ran second on the Pakenham Synthetic on Monday. He will keep for another day.
