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. Progeny by Snitzel, Farnan and Capitalist are all chasing success.
Sportsbet Sandown Hillside, Race 2, 1.35pm AEDT, MRC Membership Feel The Thrill 3YO Maiden Plate, $55,000, 1000m
Pure Passion, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Snogging {I Am Invincible})
Sandown is the venue for Pure Passion (Snitzel) to have her fourth start on Wednesday, and she looks a huge chance of winning her maiden. The well-bred daughter of Snitzel from the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable has run three very good placings in her career, including at Group 3 and Listed level.
Pure Passion as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pure Passion is out of the talented mare Snogging (I Am Invincible), who was successful four times from 1300 metres to 1600 metres, she also placed in the G2 Queen Of The Turf Stakes and the Listed Centaurea Stakes. Further back in the family are the talented New Zealand-bred trio of El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), Chocante (NZ) (Shocking) and Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Snogging’s further progeny since producing Pure Passion, includes a 2-year-old filly by Stay Inside, a yearling filly by Snitzel, and is due to foal to Coolmore Stud’s Golden Slipper winning son of Snitzel in Shinzo.
Pure Passion was purchased for $950,000 by KPW Bloodstock from the Silverdale Farm draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Kensington, Race 1, 1.25pm, AEDT, Asahi Super Dry Handicap, $100,000, 1250m
Lady Pankhurst, 3-year-old filly (Capitalist x Thunder Lady (NZ) {Mastercraftsman {Ire}})
The well-bred Lady Pankhurst (Capitalist) is set to resume at Kensington on Wednesday as a 3-year-old after showing such promise as a juvenile last season.
As a 2-year-old she was classy enough to place in the Listed Fernhill Mile behind Spicy Lu (Tagaloa), and she also placed in maiden company at Gosford. She has had a couple of trials at Randwick to prepare for her resuming run this Wednesday.
Lady Pankhurst as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lady Pankhurst is a daughter of Newgate Stud Farm’s star stallion Capitalist and is the fourth foal out of the Mastercraftsman (Ire) mare Thunder Lady (NZ).
Thunder Lady was a classy filly, and while she was only a maiden winner over 2000 metres, she showed her class, placing in the G2 Wakeful Stakes, G1 Victorian Oaks and the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes as a 3-year-old filly.
Thunder Lady, since producing Lady Pankhurst, has left a 2-year-old filly by Russian Revolution, and she foaled a filly by Stay Inside earlier this month.
Lady Pankhurst was purchased by G and G Bloodstock for $75,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Segenhoe Stud.
Kensington, Race 3, 2.35pm, AEDT, Ranvet B72 Handicap, $60,000, 1100m
Grand Eagle, 3-year-old gelding (Farnan x Sauvignon {Pierro})
The promising Farnan gelding Grand Eagle is set to resume at Kensington on Wednesday. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained runner was successful twice as a juvenile, and he has had one quiet trial at Canterbury earlier this month to prepare for his resuming run.
Farnan | Standing at Kia Ora Stud
Grand Eagle is a half-sister to Chilled (Shalaa {Ire}) who was a dual winner as a juvenile and was stakes-placed in the Listed Without Fear Stakes, he comes from the extended family of Catchy (Fastnet Rock) who was the brilliant winner of the G1 Blue DIamond Stakes, and recent stakes winners Floozie (Zoustar) and Cleo Cat (American Pharoah {USA}).
Since producing Grand Eagle, Sauvignon (Pierro), has produced a Farnan yearling filly, and was subsequently served by Anamoe last spring.
Grand Eagle was purchased by George Moore Bloodstock from the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $300,000 from the draft of Valiant Stud.
Looking Back
Nielsen Park (Zoustar) and From The Peak (Alabama Express) - Were both out of the placings in what looked like a pretty decent maiden race at Newcastle.
