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.
Two exciting 3-year-old staying prospects go head-to-head at Cranbourne on Friday night. A well-bred Proisir filly and a Super Seth gelding, both with staying pedigrees, will line up in a 2025-metre maiden that should give a good early guide to their potential over ground.
Southside Cranbourne, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Vale Warren Huntly Maiden Plate, $45,000, 2025m
Seychelles (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Proisir x Donna Marie (NZ) {Don Eduardo {NZ}})
The well-bred Seychelles (NZ) (Proisir) will make her third start at Cranbourne on Sunday for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
On debut, she ran a very promising third over 1512 metres, where she was attacking the line well, and then she backed that up with a close-up second at Flemington in the Oaks Trial for 3-year-old fillies over 1800 metres.
Seychelles (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She looks very hard to beat over 2025 metres, and after this race it would be no surprise to see her in an Oaks lead-up race, as she is bred to stay all day.
This promising filly is the sixth foal from Donna Marie (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}). Donna Marie was placed on the track in New Zealand and Australia, and she has since excelled as a broodmare.
She has left four winners, including the very good filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), an eight-time winner and successful in the G1 New Zealand Stakes and the G1 Vinery Stakes. She has also left the Listed placed and winner over 1400 metres in Ajay Tee (NZ) (Foxwedge).
In recent times Donna Marie has left a 2-year-old Proisir filly that was purchased for NZ$1.1 million by Roger James at this year's Karaka sale, a yearling filly by Proisir, and she is due to foal to Chaldean (GB) this spring.
Seychelles was purchased from the draft of Hallmark Stud by Moody Racing for NZ$1.6 million at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale, and she now races in the Fairway Thoroughbreds colours.
Southside Cranbourne, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Vale Warren Huntly Maiden Plate, $45,000, 2025m
Scoop The Pool, 3-year-old gelding (Super Seth x Rosa Vernans (Ire) {Sea The Stars {Ire}})
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Scoop The Pool (Super Seth) will be making his fourth start at Cranbourne on Friday. He ran a very good race for fourth on debut at Rosehill back in June. Then it looked like he needed his resuming run for sixth at Warwick Farm in a strong maiden, before he ran a promising third last start at Kembla Grange over 1600 metres.
Scoop The Pool as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Scoop The Pool is very much bred to stay, being by a Sadler’s Wells (USA) line stallion in Super Seth, and he is out of the Sea The Stars (Ire) mare Rosa Vernans (Ire), who was a winner at 2600 metres in France.
She comes from a very strong family with a range of international Group-winners throughout the pedigree including Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sea La Rossa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), and Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {GB}).
Since producing Scoop The Pool, Rosa Vernans has produced a 2-year-old filly by King’s Legacy, and was due to foal to Super Seth earlier this spring.
Scoop The Pool was purchased for $180,000 by John O’Shea Racing, James Bester Bloodstock and B Rogers from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Caesar (Capitalist) - Was a solid second at Hawkesbury, he had a wide trip throughout and was still closing on the winner at the finish, so it was a good effort.
Fashionable (NZ) (Savabeel) - Was a nice winner at Hawkesbury, she looks like she will develop further with a bit more time, but she does look a potential stayer of some promise.
