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 exciting 3-year-olds by Tassort, Zoustar and Super Seth are chasing success across Australia on Thursday.
Gosford, Race 2, 4.15pm AEDT, Novacoast Services Class 1 Handicap, $42,000, 1200m
Diacon, 3-year-old filly (Tassort x Sutton Forest {Pierro})
The promising Diacon (Tassort) will be chasing her second win from only three starts for trainer Bjorn Baker at Gosford on Thursday. She won impressively on the same track at maiden grade at her last start, and looks the type that could go on with the job.
Tassort | Standing at Newgate Farm
Diacon is the fifth foal from Sutton Forest (Pierro), who was a winer at 1400 metres on the track. Sutton Forest is a daughter of Pinezero (Danzero), who was a four-time winner who was successful in the Listed Silver Jubilee Stakes, and the Listed Quezette Stakes.
Since producing Diacon, Sutton Forest has left a yearling filly by Flying Artie, and she foaled a Sejardan colt in September this year.
Diacon was withdrawn from the 2024 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Gosford, Race 4, 5.30pm AEDT, Aidacare Super Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1200m
Pyrolysis, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Princess Wildfire {Sepoy})
Pyrolysis (Zoustar) attempts to break her maiden at her third start at Canterbury on Friday for trainer Bjorn Baker. She showed promise as a juvenile with two strong placings at Gosford and Warwick Farm - the latter behind the talented Tomato Toastie (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
Based on her two trial wins this preparation, and her very good second resuming behind Ernaux (I Am Invincible) at Canterbury last month, she looks hard to beat in this maiden event.
Pyrolysis as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pyrolysis boasts a deep pedigree. She is the fourth foal out of Princess Wildfire (Sepoy), who was placed on the track but is a half-sister to Group 1 winning stallion Star Witness, three-time Group 3 winner and sire Nostradamus, and the Listed winner Embracer (Sebring). She is also a three-quarter-sister to Elusive Leone (Elusive Quality {USA}), dam of three-time stakes winner Vulpine (Snitzel).
Since producing Pyrolysis, Princess Wildfire has foaled a 2-year-old colt named Basston (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a yearling filly by Justify (USA), and produced a Shinzo colt in August.
Pyrolysis was initially purchased by Alter Bridge Equine for $210,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, before being passed in short of her $200,000 reserve at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, The Elephant and Castle Hotel Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1247m
Forceofone, 3-year-old gelding (Super Seth x Heartfelt (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The well-related Forceofone (NZ) (Super Seth) is set to make his fourth start at Geelong on Thursday. So far in his career, his best effort was running third at Sale in late October.
Forceofone is a son of Waikato Stud’s exciting Super Seth and is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Heartfelt (NZ) who was unraced on the track.
Forceofone (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She has already proven to be a reliable broodmare having left four winners including the four-time winner Sincere (NZ) (Savabeel), another four-time in Ocean Heart (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Hivari (NZ) (Tivaci) and Genuinely (NZ) (Tivaci).
Forceofone’s grandam Metropolitan (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) was a talented racemare and was successful three times including in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. She went onto become a very good broodmare leaving six individual winners including Residential (NZ) (Pins) who was successful nine times including in the G3 South Island Breeders Stakes, Listed Dunedin Guineas, Otago Breeders’ Stakes and the Listed Southland Guineas.
Heartfelt since producing Forceofone has left a yearling colt by Ardrossan and then missed to The Chosen One (NZ).
Forceofone sold for NZ$155,000 at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale with Lindsay Park Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Waikato Stud Ltd.
Looking Back
Wolfoffitroystreet (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) - ran a nice second by a length, looking for more.
Satin Diva (Better Than Ready) - third, but well beaten by the nippy Job Done with a three and a quarter-length margin.
Touchdown (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) - solid winner by three quarters of a length!
