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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 talented types are running across Australia on Saturday. Progeny by classy sires Super Seth, Savabeel and I Am Invincible are all chasing success.
Caulfield, Race 1, 12.15pm AEDT, Lamaro’s Hotel Plate, $150,000, 1400m
Sulek (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Super Seth x Tiff And Co (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The promising Sulek (NZ) (Super Seth) is set to make his third start over 1400 metres for Flemington trainer Dominic Sutton at Caulfield on Saturday.
He blacked up a solid debut at Mornington where he ran third on September 18, then he looked good winning at his second start at Sandown on October 1, when defeating Snitz Sonic (Snitzel) by just under a length.
Sulek is a son of Waikato Stud’s exciting Super Seth and is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Tiff And Co (NZ) who was unraced.
Sulek (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She is a half sister to Single (High Chaparral {Ire}) who was a Listed winner and also Ghayth (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and Ego (GB) (Green Desert {USA}), who were both stakes placed on the track.
Tiff And Co in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly by Tarzino (NZ), a yearling colt by Super Seth, and is due to foal to the exciting Noverre (NZ) late this month.
Sulek was originally a NZ$70,000 purchase by TJ Askew from the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale. He was then a successful pinhook when selling from the KB draft for NZ$420,000 to Sutton Racing and Byron Rogers at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Eagle Farm, Race 2, 1.18pm AEDT (12.48pm local), Become a BRC Member QTIS 3YO Handicap, $85,000, 1810m
Contingency (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Savabeel x Bingo (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
Contingency (NZ), a son of Savabeel, will be making his third start at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainer Pail Shailer. He has won both his starts at Sunshine Coast over the mile distance and looks ready to make it a hatrick on Saturday.
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).n
Contingency (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bingo is also a half sister to the dams of Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), Aegon 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 has since been purchased via Inglis Digital for $70,000 by K Lack in June this year.
Newcastle, Race 2, 1.55pm AEDT, Cabac F&M Maiden Handicap, $42,000, 1250m
Ernaux, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Booker {Written Tycoon})
The Chris Waller-trained Ernaux (I Am Invincible), will make her fifth start at Newcastle on Saturday. She has run pretty honest races in her career having run in the top four in all of them.
Ernaux is the second foal from the outstanding Written Tycoon mare Booker, she was a four-time winner and her wins included the G1 Oakleigh Plate, G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, and the G3 Kevin Hayes Stakes.
Ernaux as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Booker is also very well-related being a full sister to the young Waikato Stud stallion Banquo, he was a handy colt wining at Listed level and being multiple times Group placed.
Booker since leaving Ernaux, has left a 2-year-old colt by Home Affairs, and she was exported to America and was served by Justify (USA) and foaled a colt in Australia in August.
Ernaux was a $3 million purchase by Resolute Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Street Legal (Exceedance) - Ran an honest third at Pakenham.
Katsumi Orochi (Maurice {Jpn}) - Was a lovely winner at Pakenham, he looks like he could progress through the grades quickly,
