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 at Geelong on Friday. Promising runners by Zoustar, Hellbent, and Proisir are all chasing maiden success.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 1, 11.40am AEDT, Ladbrokes Form Genius Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1150m
Lord Coda, 2-year-old gelding (Zoustar x Lady Lupino {Sebring})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Lord Coda (Zoustar) will make his second start at Geelong on Friday. He has only had the one run where he ran ninth back in February, since then he has been gelded, and has had a jump out and a trial to prepare himself for his resuming run.
Lord Coda is by the Champion stallion in waiting Zoustar, and is out of the Sebring mare Lady Lupino. She was a smart 2-year-old, winning two races, but also placed in the G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes and the G1 Champagne Stakes.
Lord Coda as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lady Lupino is also a sister to the Listed Gold Rush Handicap victor in Embracer (Sebring), and a half-sister to the Champion Australian 3yo Colt and sire in Star Witness and the G3 San Domenico Stakes winner and sire Nostradamus.
Other successful stakes performers in the family include Vulpine (Snitzel), Leone Chiara (Lion Hunter), Chinchilla Rose (Lion Hunter), Ferocity, Pohutakawa (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Chiaramonte (Redoute’s Choice).
Since producing Lord Coda, Lady Lupino has left a yearling colt by Zoustar, a weanling colt by Farnan and is due to foal to Anamoe in October.
Lord Coda was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $500,000 from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 3, 12.50pm AEDT, Geelong Cup Audi Centre Geelong Lounge On Sale Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1250m
Sussex Duchess, 3-year-old filly (Hellbent x Family Portrait {Excellent Art {GB}})
The promising Hellbent filly, Sussex Duchess is set to make her fifth start over 1250 metres at Geelong for trainer Andrew Noblet on Friday.
She has improved each start she has had, and her last two efforts have been solid third placings at Geelong and on the Ballarat Synthetic track. She looks well placed again to run well.
Sussex Duchess is the sixth foal out of Family Portrait (Excellent Art {GB}). She was a four-time winner from 1000 metres up to 1600 metres and was placed in the Listed Pewsey Vale Stakes.
Sussex Duchess as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has already had success at stud, leaving four winners, including the very talented Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) who was a 10-time winner including at Group 3 and Listed level, and the eight-time winner and multiple stakes placed Ritratto (Fiorente {Ire}).
Family Portrait has since produced a 2-year-old gelding named Langlo Crossing (King’s Legacy), a Pinatubo (Ire) weanling filly, and is due to foal to Harry Angel (Ire) in early October.
Sussex Duchess was purchased by Andrew Noblet Racing for $160,000 from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 4, 1.30pm AEDT, Geelong Legacy Centenary Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1550m
Navy Nina (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Proisir x Exige {Tavistock {NZ}})
Ben, Will and JD Hayes will prepare the 3-year-old filly Navy Nina (NZ) (Proisir) to have her third start at Geelong’s Friday meeting.
Navy Nina ran a very good close-up second at Seymour last December behind the promising Entrusting (The Autumn Sun). She has since had a break and resumed with a solid fourth at Geelong in late June, where she was attacking the line strongly after getting out of her ground over 1212 metres.
Navy Nina is the second foal out of the Tavistock (NZ) mare Exige (NZ), she was unraced on the track but has already left one winner in Amiinit (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}). Unfortunately Navy Nina was her last foal.
Proisir | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
Exige is a half-sister to the talented stayer Nigelissima (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), she was a three-time winner and was successful in the Listed Champion Stakes Prelude as a 3-year-old over 2100 metres.
Other stakes winners that feature in her pedigree are Posing (NZ) (Truly Vain), Zanna (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), Ad Alta (NZ) (Kenfair {NZ}), Llanacord (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), and Batman (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}).
Navy Nina was originally purchased at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Weanling Sale by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) for NZ$20,000, she was then successfully re-sold at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale to Group 1 Bloodstock and Bruce Perry Bloodstock for NZ$220,000.
Looking Back
Super Eclipse (Super Seth) - Was a touch disappointing running fifth at Wyong.
Firework (Written Tycoon) - Was disappointing running sixth at Wyong.
