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 promising 3-year-old fillies by Alabama Express and Farnan are chasing maiden success at Ararart on Tuesday.
Ararat, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Harvey Norman Ararat 3YO Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1100m
Imzada, 3-year-old filly (Alabama Express x Cerberus Gal {General Nediym})
The Leon, Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained and Yulong Investments-bred and part-owned Alabama Express filly Imzada will be having her fourth start at Ararat on Tuesday.
She has only had three starts and ran sixth in all of them, but they have been in very strong company and she should enjoy the step back in grade here.
Imzada as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This well-bred filly is out of the General Nediym mare Cerberus Gal, who was a 3-time winner and was placed in the G2 Yallambee Classic, Listed Dermody Lightning Stakes, G3 Spring Stakes, and the G3 RN Irwin Stakes.
Cerberus Gal has gone on to be a very good producer leaving seven individual winners. The best of these has been the talented Irukandji (Dundeel {NZ}) who was a 3-time winner including in the G3 Schweppervescence Handicap.
Since producing Imzada, Cerberus Gal has produced a 2-year-old colt by Tagaloa, a yearling filly by Alabama Express, and was served by Diatonic (Jpn) to Northern Hemisphere time in late March earlier this year.
Imzada was purchased by Malua Bloodstock for $150,000 from the Yulong draft at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Ararat, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, Harris Accident Repair Centre Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1300m
Hand Luggage, 3-year-old filly (Farnan x Fly Lightly {More Than Ready {USA}})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Hand Luggage (Farnan) is set to make her third start at Ararat on Tuesday over 1300 metres.
She has run two sound fourths in her career so far at Avoca and Ararat and looks well-placed to be competitive in this event.
Farnan | Standing at Kia Ora Stud
This well-bred filly is the third live-foal out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Fly Lightly, she was a winner at 1000 metres, but is very well-related being a full sister to the Group 3 winner and sire War, and a three-quarter-sister to the outstanding More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}), who was a 21-time winner, including at Group 1-level eight times.
Other Group 1 winners in the family include Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}), Fenway (High Chaparral {Ire}), Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {Jpn}), and Joie Denise (Danehill {USA}).
Fly Lightly, since producing Hand Luggage, has left a colt foal by Home Affairs in September this year.
Fly Lightly was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the 2023 Magic Millions Strawberry Hill Stud Dispersal Sale.
Looking Back
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Pavlich (Written Tycoon) and Tan Tat Delight (Russian Revolution) both won their maidens in stylish fashion at Kilmore on Sunday. They are 3-year-olds to keep an eye on.
