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 promising horses are hitting the track across Australia on Wednesday. At Bendigo, 3-year-old fillies by Capitalist and I Am Invincible go head-to-head, and at Newcastle, a Group-performed Hellbent 3-year-old filly looks to break her maiden status.
Bendigo, Race 1, 1pm AEDT, Avis Bendigo 3YO Fillies Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1100m
Espana, 3-year-old filly (Capitalist x Spanish Pipedream (USA) {Scat Daddy {USA}})
The Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained Espana (Capitalist) is set to make her third start at Bendigo on Thursday in the hands of jockey Jamie Melham.
She looked very talented as a 2-year-old running placings at Sandown and Flemington in strong company, and she has had two jump-outs at Cranbourne to prepare herself for her resuming run.
Espana as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This well-bred filly is the fourth and sadly last foal out of the Scat Daddy (USA) mare Spanish Pipedream (USA). She was very talented winning four times, including twice at Listed level in America, and she was also classy enough to run fourth in the G2 Royal Ascot Queen Mary Stakes.
She has proven her worth as a broodmare leaving three winners including Latizia (Capitalist), who won as a juvenile, and placed in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (fillies).
Deep in the pedigree is a long list of classy Group-winners in America including Get Smokin (USA) (Set Stormy {USA}), Phi Beta Doc (USA) (Doc’s Leader), and the outstanding four-time Group 1 winner Dayatthespa (USA) (City Zip {USA}) who has also left a Group 2 winner in Spaliday (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Espana was passed in short of her $100,000 reserve at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bendigo, Race 1, 1pm AEDT, Avis Bendigo 3YO Fillies Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1100m
Lady Verity, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Volpe Veloce {Foxwedge})
The promising Lady Verity (I Am Invincible) is set to make her second start for trainer Matt Laurie at Bendigo on Thursday. On debut she ran a nice race for second on the Ballarat Synthetic track where she was a touch unlucky. She strikes what looks like a strong maiden race, but she should be competitive with natural improvement.
Lady Verity as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lady Verity is by I Am Invincible and is the second foal out of the Foxwedge mare Volpe Veloce, who was an outstanding galloper in New Zealand, winning 12 times from 1200 metres to 1600 metres. Her best wins were in the G1 Railway Handicap, G2 Eight Carat Classic, G2 Westbury Classic, G2 Japan-NZ International Trophy, G3 Eulogy Stakes, R. Listed Karaka 3YO Mile and the Listed Castletown Stakes.
Volpe Veloce is also well-related being a full sister to Raposa Rapida (Foxwedge) who was an eight-time winner including at Listed level, and Lady Verity's grandam Bardego (Barathea {Ire}) was a very talented juvenile, winning at Group 3 level and Listed level.
Volpe Veloce has had I Am Invincible as a constant companion, since leaving Lady Verity, she has produced a weanling filly by I Am Invincible, and is due to foal again to ‘Vinny’ in October.
Lady Verity was purchased for $450,000 by Matt Laurie and P Morgan from the draft of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Newcastle, Race 3, 1.50pm AEDT, Newcastle Master Builders Apprentices Super 3YO Maiden Plate, $60,000, 900m
Savvy Hallie, 3-year-old filly (Hellbent x Rose Of Savannah {Fastnet Rock})
The Brad Widdup-trained Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) will be making her fifth start at Newcastle on Thursday over 900 metres in the hands of jockey Jay Ford.
This exciting daughter of Hellbent has very strong form heading into this maiden event. She has placed in the G3 Baillieu Stakes and the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes as a juvenile, and should be winning this maiden.
Savvy Hallie as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Savvy Hallie is the second foal of Rose Of Savannah (Fastnet Rock), who was a dual winner on the track. She comes from a very good extended family that includes the Group 1 winners Savannah Success (Success Express {USA}) and her Champion sire son Savabeel.
Rose Of Savannah, since producing Savvy Hallie, has left a 2-year-old filly named Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a yearling filly by Home Affairs, and is due to foal to Reliable Man (GB) later this month.
Savvy Hallie was initially purchased by Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $150,000, she was then successfully pin-hooked at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $320,000 to the bid of B K Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd from the Riverstone Lodge draft.
Looking Back
Seychelles (NZ) (Proisir) - Was unfortunately scratched, she will keep for another day.
Guardsman (Extreme Choice) - Ran an okay fourth at Eagle Farm, he looks like he will appreciate a little bit further
Planet Red (Admire Mars {Jpn}) - Was an impressive winner at Sandown, he didn't win by a big margin but he looked good doing it.
