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.
Mornington is the location for 3-year-olds by Dundeel (NZ), Per Incanto (USA) and Capitalist to chase maiden success on Thursday.
Mornington, Race 1, 1.30pm, AEDT, Sportsbet Blackbook Maiden Plate, $42,500, 2050m
Johnich, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel (NZ) x Play That Song {Smart Missile})
The promising Johnich (Dundeel {NZ}) looks very hard t beat for trainer Jason Warren on his home track of Mornington on Thursday. The step up to 2050 metres looks ideal for this promising stayer.
He has run two placings from his only two starts in his career so far at Mornington and Pakenham and in the hands of jockey Daniel Stackhouse he should be strong late.
Johnich as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Johnich is the third foal out of Play That Song (Smart Missile), a dual winner who also ran fourth in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet. She is also a half sister to the South African Group 1 winner Heavenly Blue, a son of Snitzel that now stands at stud.
Play That Song has had a bit of bad luck since producing Johnich, missing to Castelvecchio, and slipping to Cosmic Force, before she produced a Lucky Vega (Ire) filly in October.
Johnich was purchased for $100,000 by Jason Warren Racing Stables from the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale
Mornington, Race 4, 3pm, AEDT, The Big Screen Company Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1200m
Mission Of Joy (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Per Incanto (USA) x Amal Rose {Written Tycoon})
The exciting Mission Of Joy (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) takes her place at Mornington for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes on Thursday.
She ran a very nice second at Mornington on debut earlier this month behind Doubtland Diva (Doubtland), and she should have only improved from that experience.
Mission Of Joy is the first foal out of Amal Rose (Written Tycoon), she was a winner over 1400 metres, but showed her class as a filly when running fourth in the Listed Oaks Prelude at Taranaki.
Mission Of Joy (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Mission Of Joy’s great grandam Bramble Rose (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) was a very good staying filly winning the G1 New Zealand Oaks, and placing in the G1 Australian Oaks and the G1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes.
She ended up leaving three stakes winners Maules Creek (Redoute’s Choice), Sebrose (Sebring), and Tangled (Snitzel). This is also the family of the Group 3 winner Lady Chaparral (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Since producing Mission Of Joy, Amal Rose has left a 2-year-old colt named Avedis (Per Incanto {USA}), a yearling colt by Toronado (Ire), and was due to foal to Tassort this spring.
Mission Of Joy was purchased by KPW Bloodstock for NZ$260,000 from the Little Avondale Stud draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale.
Mornington, Race 4, 3pm, AEDT, The Big Screen Company Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1200m
Path To Profit, 3-year-old filly (Capitalist x Dashoff {Dash For Cash})
The well-related Path To Profit (Capitalist) lines up for her fourth start at Mornington for her trainer Ciaron Maher on Thursday
She has run three solid races for two placings in her career so far and looks well placed to strike in this maiden event over 1200 metres in the hands of Ben Melham.
Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm
She is the tenth and last foal out of Dashoff (Dash For Cash), she was a winner over 1100 metres, but at stud has left four winners with the best of them clearly being Spright (Hinchinbrook), who was a six-time winner including in the G1 Sangster Stakes, three other Group 3 races and a Listed sprint.
Her other winners include Mine Two (I Am Invincible), who was a winner as a juvenile and placed in the G3 Schweppervescence Handicap, the six-time winner Johnny Dash (I Am Invincible) and Way We Go (California Dane).
Looking Back
Bohemian Art (Deep Field) - Ran a battling fourth at Wyong.
Lady Verity (I Am Invincible) - Was a very impressive winner at Geelong by two lengths, she has bigger wins ahead.
Mission Of Joy (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) - Scratched from her race at Geelong, she instead runs at Mornington on Thursday, where she is again a 'Looking Ahead' selection.
