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 well-bred runners are taking their place at Moonee Valley and Scone on Friday, promising runners by elite stallions Written Tycoon, Extreme Choice and I Am Invincible are all looking to make their mark.
Moonee Valley, Race 2, 6.45pm AEDT, Drummond Golf Brian Kruger 3YO Handicap, $150,000, 1200m
Duke Atreides, 3-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Chateau Cheval {High Chaparral {Ire}})
The promising Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained Duke Atreides (Written Tycoon) takes his place at Moonee Valley in a 3-year-old Handicap on Friday night, which represents a clear drop in class from his eighth placing behind Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) in the G3 McNeil Stakes at his last start late last month.
Dike Atreides as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A half-brother to Coolmore Stud stallion Best Of Bordeaux, Duke Atreides is the third foal from city winner Chateau Cheval (High Chaparral {Ire}), a half-sister to four stakes winners, including the pensioned Casino Prince.
She has left a 2-year-old colt named Stonecrest (Pierro), and has unfortunately missed to Snitzel the last two seasons.
Duke Atreides was a $575,000 purchase at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for TFI and Annabel Archibald from the Baramul Stud draft.
Moonee Valley, Race 5, 8.15pm AEDT, G3 Dominant Scarborough Stakes, $200,000, 1200m
Esha, 3-year-old filly (Extreme Choice x I Am A Star (NZ) {I Am Invincible})
The exciting Esha (Extreme Choice) takes on the G3 Scarborough Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night and she looks very hard to beat for trainers Shane Nichols and Hayden Black, if she can stretch her brilliance to 1200 metres.
Esha as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She has won two of her three starts, and at her last start she finished just over 2.5l off Baraqiel (Snitzel) at Group 1 level in the Moir Stakes.
Esha is the third foal of the G1 Myer Classic (now the G1 Empire Rose Stakes) winner I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible), who won 10 races and over $1.5 million on the track. Esha, is I Am A Star’s second winner after Orion The Hunter (Deep Field) who has won five times. I Am A Star has an unnamed 2-year-old filly and yearling filly, both by Extreme Choice, and missed to him last season.
Esha was sold by Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $900,000 to Kia Ora Stud and Shane Nichols Racing. She is raced by Kia Ora Stud and Hollymount Stud who bred her.
Scone, Race 4, 3.25pm AEDT, Vinery Maiden Handicap, $27,000, 1100m
Yoweri, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Reign (Ire) {Elusive City {USA}})
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Yoweri (I Am Invincible) will be making his debut at Scone on Friday. He has won three of his seven trials and looks very well educate to run well in this maiden event.
Yoweri is out of the Elusive City (USA) mare Reign (Ire), who was placed on the track at Longchamp in France.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park
Reign has been a successful broodmare already having already produced five winners, including two Italian Listed winners in Gold Tail (Ire) (Dream Ahead {USA}) and Sopran Ival (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}).
She as also well-related being a half sister to Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) who has been a Group 2 and Group 3 winner for Rosemont Stud.
Since producing Yoweri, Reign has produced a 2-year-old filly by Bivouac, a yearling filly by Justify (USA), and missed to Starspangledbanner last spring.
Yoweri was withdrawn from both the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Tambeloa (Tagaloa) - Ran a solid enough fifth at Hawkesbury.
Savisanta (NZ) (Savabeel) - Ran a very good second at Geelong, he is getting close to a win.
