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 across Australia on Saturday, runners by Farnan, Hello Youmzain (Fr) and Savabeel are all chasing success.
Flemington, Race 2, 12.55pm AEDT, Listed Darley Maribyrnong Plate, $175,000, 1000m
Knightsbridge, 2-year-old colt (Farnan x Festivity {Nicconi})
The exciting Knightsbridge (Farnan) makes his debut at Listed level at Flemington on Saturday, and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained youngster looks hard to beat on the back of a promising trial victory on the Kensington back on September 22 over 850 metres.
The son of Farnan is the fifth foal of Festivity (Nicconi), who was a three-time winner on the track, who has since thrived as a broodmare. She has left three winners, including Semana (Winning Rupert), who has won at Group 3 and R. Listed level, and placed at Group 1 level three times, and Gala Queen (Deep Field), who has been a Listed winner in South Australia.
Knightsbridge as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Festivity is also a half sister to Merriest (Denman), who was a five-time winner, including at Listed level in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Since producing Knightsbridge, Festivity has produced a Farnan yearling colt, and is due to foal to I Am Invincible later this spring.
Knightsbridge was purchased for $750,000 by James Harron Bloodstock and Tony Fung Colts from the Lime Country draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Murtoa, Race 1, 1.11pm AEDT, Samios Plumbing Supplies Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1100m
Signoretti (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Hello Youmzain (Fr) x I Am Grande {I Am Invincible})
Signoretti (NZ), a son of Cambridge Stud’s exciting stallion Hello Youmzain (Fr), will be making his fourth start at Murtoa for Cranbourne trainer Mark Walker.
He ran a solid race for fifth on debut at Ballarat back in March 7, where he attacked the line well from way back in the field, and then backed that up with two good seconds at Cranbourne and Geelong.
He has since had a break and three jump-outs to prepare himself for his resuming 3-year-old run, where he looks hard to beat.
Signoretti (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Signoretti is the second foal from the I Am Invincible mare I Am Grande, who was a two-time winner and placed at metropolitan level in Sydney.
The family is a bit quiet in black type close-up, but there are some classy gallopers that feature further back. His third dam is the outstanding Bollinger (Dehere {USA}), who won the G1 Coolmore Classic and her Group-winning stallion sons Villermont and Fresian Fire (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}).
I Am Grande since producing Signoretti, has left a yearling colt by Tarzino (NZ) and is due to foal to the same stallion this spring.
Signoretti was a $100,000 purchase by Cambridge Stud from the draft of Westbury Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Doomben, Race 5, 2.33pm AEDT, Senq QTIS 3YO Handicap, $85,000, 1600m
Contingency (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Savabeel x Bingo (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
Contingency (NZ), a son of Savabeel, will be making his second start at Doomben on Saturday, and he will be looking to remain unbeaten after scoring impressively on debut at the Sunshine Coast over the same distance for trainer Paul Shailer.
Contingency (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The well-bred gelding is the fifth and last foal from the two-time winner Bingo (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}}). She is a well-related type, being a three-quarter-sister to Symphonic (NZ), a Group-placed daughter of O’Reilly (NZ) that is the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel).
Bingo is also a half sister to the dams of Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), Aegeon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}), who are also all Group 1 winners.
Contingency was originally purchased by Flag Bloodstock for NZ$340,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale. He was then purchased via Inglis Digital for $70,000 by K Lack in June this year.
Looking Back
Cabriole (Lonhro) - Ran a solid third at Moonee Valley,he should improve off that effort and may appreciate a bigger track.
Miss Deceiver (Tassort) - Ran a solid fourth at Moonee Valley.
