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 3-year-old runners take their place across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. Progeny by Tassort, Bivouac and Written Tycoon are all chasing success.
Ruakaka, Race 1, 10.45am, AEDT (12.45pm local), Ben and Nola Wortelboer Memorial Race 3YO, $35,000, 1100m
Love The Sort, 3-year-old filly (Tassort x Siyaadeh {Written Tycoon})
Love The Sort (Tassort) was an impressive debut winner in June on the Cambridge Synthetic, and the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained filly looks to stay unbeaten at Ruakaka on Saturday.
Love The Sort is the first foal out of Siyaadeh (Written Tycoon), who was a winner over 1100 metres on the track.
Siyaadeh has a strong pedigree, she is a half-sister to Adelong (Medaglia D’oro {USA}), who was an eight-time winner, including once at Listed level.
Love The Sort as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Further back in the family are the talented Group winners Snowland, Larkspur Run (Shamardal {USA}), Renosu (Exceed And Excel), Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}), Return To Conquer (Snitzel), and Ghisoni (Lonhro).
Siyaadeh, since producing Love The Sort, has left a 2-year-old colt named Harry’s Back (Bivouac), a weanling filly by Brazen Beau, and is due to foal to Hanseatic this month.
Love The Sort was purchased for $42,500 by Shaune Ritchie Racing from the Emirates Park draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.
Flemington, Race 1, 1.50pm AEDT, TAB We’re On B70 3YO Handicap, $150,000, 1410m
Exit, 3-year-old filly (Bivouac x Secretly Discreet {Lonhro})
Flemington is the venue for the third start of the very exciting Exit (Bivouac). Exit debuted in February, finishing ninth in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) behind Palm Angel (Starspangledbanner). While unplaced on paper, the run had merit, and she was immediately spelled and given time to furnish.
She then resumed with purpose, winning impressively at Sandown last month, and if she holds that form, she looks very hard to beat in her first start as a 3-year-old.
Exit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Exit is the second foal, and second winner, from Secretly Discreet (Lonhro), a winner over 1200 metres. She is a half-sister to Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}), winner of the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes, and Really Discreet (Helmet), a five-time winner and Listed placegetter.
Exit’s grandam, Maybe Discreet (Shamardal {USA}), was a top-class racemare who won the G1 Schweppes Oaks and the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes.
Since producing Exit, Secretly Discreet has foaled a yearling filly by Farnan, but unfortunately slipped to Anamoe following her most recent service.
Exit was a $675,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Mill Park Stud, and became the most expensive yearling by her sire.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 5, 1.45pm AEDT, Congratulations Braith Nock B72 Handicap, $160,000, 1200m
Grand Prairie, 3-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Viddora {I Am Invincible})
The well-bred Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon) is set to make his fourth start over 1200 metres for Randwick trainer Peter Snowden at Rosehill on Saturday. He was an impressive winner at Kensington over 1100 metres at his last start, and looks like a talented colt who can take the step up immediately.
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.
Grand Prairie as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
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.
Looking Back
Kiwi Harmony (NZ) (Ardrossan) - Ran a solid second on debut at Cranbourne, she looked like she will improve off the experience also.
Ninja (Farnan) - Dominated at Kembla Grange, winning by just over 11 lengths in the small field.
