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 Capitalist, Night Of Thunder (Ire), and Too Darn Hot (GB) are all chasing success.
Canterbury, Race 5, 3.55pm AEDT, Asahi Super Dry Handicap, $60,000, 1100m
Hidden Motive, 3-year-old colt (Capitalist x Secret Agenda {Not A Single Doubt})
The well-bred Hidden Motive (Capitalist) is set to have his first start as a 3-year-old at Canterbury over 1100 metres for trainer Nathan Doyle on Wednesday.
He had a very good juvenile campaign winning twice and placing twice from only five starts, going by his trials at Gosford and Wyong, he looks to have returned in fine form and looks hard to beat in this event.
His dam is Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt), who was an outstanding seven-time winner including at Group 1 level in the Robert Sangster Stakes, she also won another three Group races and a Listed event in her career.
Hidden Motive as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Secret Agenda is also a sister to Star Pauline (Not A Single Doubt) who was Group placed and a half sister to another three stakes performers including Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun), Donandkim (Smart Missile), and Sweetener (Snitzel).
Since producing Hidden Motive, Secret Agenda has left a 2-year-old colt named Covert Action (Home Affairs), and a yearling filly by Zoustar before she sadly died in December last year.
Hidden Motive was purchased by Doyle Racing and Kurrinda Bloodstock for $120,000 from Cressfield at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Canterbury, Race 7, 5.05pm AEDT, Ranvet B72 Handicap, $60,000, 1250m
Our Queen (Ire), 5-year-old mare (Night Of Thunder (Ire) x Sagami (USA) {Street Cry {Ire}})
The Irish-bred Our Queen (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) lines up at Canterbury on Wednesday chasing her third win from only four starts. She has only recently joined trainer Bjorn Baker, and has won both of her trials this preparation in impressive fashion.
She was previously trained by Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson, from where she picked up strong on-pace wins over 1400 metres and a mile at Sandown and Moonee Valley.
Night Of Thunder (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Our Queen is out of the stakes-placed Sagami (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}), a winner over 2400 metres in France. She is also a half-sister to Raven’s Cry (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}), a four-time winner including at Listed level in America.
Our Queen was purchased by McKeever BS and CB Bloodstock from the 2021 Goffs Ireland November Foal Sale for €175,000 (AU$309,000)
Bendigo, Race 7, 4.40pm AEDT, Club Barham BM66 Handicap, $35,000, 1000m
Trembles, 4-year-old mare (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Earthquake {Exceed And Excel})
Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman will prepare the well-bred filly Trembles (Too Darn Hot {GB}) to have her first start for the stable at Pakenham on Thursday.
Trembles was Listed placed on debut in Adelaide, and then an impressive maiden winner at Mornington in May, she then backed up that effort just over three weeks later when bolting in again over 1000 metres. She then failed at Caulfield and was put away for a spell, she has had a nice break, and has jumped out twice nicely at Mornington to prepare for this race.
Too Darn Hot (GB) | Standing at Darley
Trembles is by Darley Stud’s outstanding shuttling stallion Too Darn Hot (GB) out of the Exceed And Excel mare Earthquake, she was a very quick mare on the track winning five races, including four as a juvenile. These races included the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, G2 Reisling Stakes, G3 Blue Diamond Prelude and the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes.
Earthquake has already tasted success at stud leaving five winners including the Group 2 placed and winner Sumatra (Lonhro), and the 13-time winner and Listed placed Namazu (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Other successful stakes performers in the family include the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Madame Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}), Palomares (Commands), Pandemic (Sepoy) and El Cambio (Commands).
Since producing Trembles, Earthquake has left a Pinatubo (Ire) yearling filly, and is due to foal to the exciting young stallion Anamoe next month.
Looking Back
McWoody (Alabama Express) - Was a nice winner on debut at Wodonga, he started his career in very promising fashion.
Sulek (NZ) (Super Seth) - Has scratched from his event at Wodonga, he will keep for another day.
