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 juvenile runners take their place across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. Progeny by Belardo (Ire), Street Boss (USA), and Farnan are all chasing success.
Rotorua, Race 1, 9.57am AEDT (11.57am local), Macmillan Accountants Maiden 3YO, $20,000, 1215m
Brego (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Belardo {Ire} x Dwandaofu {NZ} {Align})
The Shelley Hale-trained Brego (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) will be having his second start at Rotorua on Saturday over 1215 metres.
He ran on okay sixth on debut back in November at Te Aroha last year, and he has had two trials to prepare himself for this event on Saturday. If his breeding gives any indication, he should enjoy the wet track conditions being by the known wet-track sire Belardo (Ire).
This gelding is the fourth live-foal out of the Align mare Dwandaofu (NZ), who only raced twice on the track, but she holds plenty of appeal being a half-sister to the Windsor Park Stallion and talented racehorse in Turn Me Loose (NZ). He was a seven-time winner on the track from 1200 metres to 1600 metres in New Zealand and Australia, and his wins included the G1 2000 Guineas, G1 Emirates Stakes, G1 Futurity Stakes, G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas, G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile and the Listed Seymour Cup.
Belardo (Ire) | Standing at Bearstone Stud
She has also done a good job at stud leaving two winners including Denby Road (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) who so far has won twice including tasting success in the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes, and her other winner has been Storm To Win (NZ) (Storm Creek {USA}) who has won nine times in Malaysia and Singapore.
Brego has very strong female pedigree influences in his page, with his second, third and fourth dams having influential broodmare sires such as Danehill (USA), Sadler’s Wells (USA) and Shirley Heights (GB).
Dwandaofu, since producing Brego, has left a Profondo weanling filly that sold for $70,000 to Fairweather Bloodstock at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale, and she is due to foal to Proisir in late October this year.
Gosford, Race 5, 3.10pm AEDT, Central Coast Locksmiths Provincial Maiden Plate, $45,000, 1000m
You’re The Choice, 2-year-old filly (Farnan x She’s Our Choice {Duporth})
The Brad Widdup-trained You’re The Choice (Farnan) will have her third start at Gosford on Saturday over 1000 metres. She was very good on debut at Newcastle over 900 metres where she ran a narrow second behind Frostfire (Zoustar), before having a crack at the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, where she finished eleventh behind Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}).
The promising filly is by Kia Ora Studs exciting son of Not A Single Doubt in Farnan, and is the fourth foal from the Duporth mare She’s Our Choice, who was unraced on the track.
You’re The Choice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She is well-related though being a half-sister to Newgate Stud Farm’s outstanding dual Group 1 sprint-winning son of Not A Single Doubt in Extreme Choice. So You’re The Choice has been very cleverly bred cross-wise using a son of Not A Single Doubt, out of a mare that is a half-sister to a dual elite sprint winner by that sire.
Since producing You’re The Choice, She’s Our Choice has produced a yearling colt by Zoustar, a weanling filly by Farnan, and she is due to foal to Farnan again in early October.
You’re The Choice was purchased from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft for $260,000 to Brad Widdup Racing from the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Flemington, Race 2, 12.40pm AEDT, Byerley 2YO Handicap, $150,000, 1800m
Bayou Music, 2-year-old colt (Street Boss (USA) x Zydeco {Zabeel {NZ}})
The well-related Bayou Music (Street Boss {USA}) is set to chase success for Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings over the 2-year-old extreme distance of 1800 metres at Flemington on Saturday.
He was a very good winner at Bendigo over 1500 metres on June 15, and then ran a solid fourth in Listed company behind Buccleuch (Peltzer) last start. His racing style gives every indication that 1800 metres will suit, and with his dam's breeding in addition to that, it should be no problem.
Street Boss (USA) | Standing at Darley
Bayou Music is the seventh foal out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Zydeco, She was a very good performer on the track winning the G2 Wakeful Stakes, and placing in the G1 Victorian Oaks, and the G1 Thousand Guineas.
She has done a good job at stud leaving four individual winners, including the dual winner and Group-placed Chenier - Enrich Delight (H.K.)
Bayou Music’s grandam is All Time High (Flying Spur), she was talented on the track winning the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Zydeco since producing Bayou Music, has produced a yearling filly called Cajun (Too Darn Hot {GB}), and is due to foal late next month to Ghaiyyath (IRE).
Looking Back
Il Cielo (Toronado {Ire}) - Ran an honest second at Mildura, a win is getting close.
Spirado (Toronado {Ire}) - Disappointed running seventh at Mildura
