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 take their place across Australia on Sunday. Progeny by Fierce Impact (Jpn), Exceed And Excel and Toronado (Ire) are all chasing success.
Wyong, Race 1, 12.05pm AEDT, Limitless Lodge Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1630m
Mountain Queen, 3-year-old filly (Fierce Impact (Jpn) x Hands Off {Trusting})
Mountain Queen, a daughter of Lovatsville’s promising stallion Fierce Impact (Jpn), will be making her third start at Wyong for Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith.
She ran a solid race for third on debut at Hawkesbury on July 3, where she attacked the line strongly from way back in the field behind Cross Tasman (NZ) (Super Seth), and then was sound when running on well into fourth as a hot favourite at Gosford on July 19 over the mile distance.
Fierce Impact (Jpn) | Standing at Lovatsville
Mountain Queen is the second foal out of Hands Off (Trusting), who was a winner at 1600 metres, and has already left a winner with her first foal in Can’t Touch This (Flying Artie). The family is a bit quiet in black type close-up but further back features the classy stallion General Nediym.
Hands Off, since producing Mountain Queen, has left a weanling colt by Fierce Impact, and is due to foal to him again in September.
Wyong, Race 3, 1.25pm AEDT, Milangall Park 3YO Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1200m
Charka, 3-year-old filly (Exceed And Excel x Handspun {Bernardini {USA})
The well-related Charka (Exceed And Excel) is set to have her fourth start, and first for new trainer Michael Freedman at Wyong on Sunday. She has run good thirds at Newcastle and Hawkesbury in her career so far, and also ran a tidy fourth last start at Kembla Grange.
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.
Exceed And Excel
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.
Sportsbet Sandown Lakeside, Race 7, 4.15pm AEDT, Sportsbet More Places B64 Handicap, $50,000, 1600m
Flowerdale, 3-year-old filly (Toronado (Ire) x Lady Churchill {Churchill Downs})
The well-related Flowerdale (Toronado {Ire}) will be making her fourth start at Sandown on Sunday for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. She won her maiden nicely at Bendigo at her last start, and looks to have the scope to be able to handle benchmark company.
Flowerdale is the fourth foal out of Lady Churchill (Churchill Downs) she was placed on the track, and has made a solid start as a broodmare leaving two winners.
Flowerdale as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lady Churchill is very well-related being a half-sister to She’s Got Gears (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who was a classy juvenile winning at Listed level, but she has excelled as a broodmare leaving the very good sprinter Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) who was a seven-time winner including at the elite level in the G1 William Reid Stakes, he also placed in The Everest.
Some other classy stakes winners within the pedigree include Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready) who won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and Jaraab (Whiskey Road {USA}) who was a Listed winner in South Australia.
Lady Churchill since producing Flowerdale, has left a 2-year-old filly named Rip It Up (Toronado {Ire}), a yearling filly by Rubick, and is due to foal to King Of Colorado in September.
Flowerdale was passed in short of her $150,000 reserve at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Exit (Bivouac) - Ran third at Flemington, she ran on well from well back in the field.
Love The Sort (Tassort) - Was disappointing running sixth at Ruakaka, she never really was able to get into the race.
Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon) - Ran a solid second at Rosehill in very heavy conditions.
