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 runners by Stay Inside, Too Darn Hot (GB) and I Am Invincible chase success at Morphettville and Doomben on Saturday.
Morphettville Park, Race 1, 1.02pm, AEDT (12.32pm local), Sportsbet Same Race Multi 2YO Plate, $65,000, 1000m
Inhabit, 2-year-old filly (Stay Inside x Jenga {All Too Hard})
The Michael Hickmott-trained Inhabit (Stay Inside) chases her second win on Saturday at Morphettville, after winning on debut back in October at Murray Bridge.
The promising 2-year-old filly is out of Jenga (All Too Hard), a half-sister to dual Listed winner Granny Red Shoes (Not A Single Doubt), who has left a Listed winner in High Octane (Deep Field).
Inhabit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Inhabit is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Kujenga (King’s Legacy), who was a winner as a juvenile and has ran top four placings in the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes, Listed William Crockett Stakes, Listed Tattersall’s Stakes, Listed Twilight Glow Stakes and the G2 Furious Stakes.
Jenga this spring produced a Capitalist filly in October, after missing to the same stallion the season before.
Inhabit was bred by Chris Barham and Binalong Bloodstock, and was sold by Segenhoe Stud for $200,000 to Michael Hickmott Bloodstock at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Doomben, Race 6, 4.17pm, AEDT (3.17pm local), Listed Crick’s Highway Phelan Ready Stakes, $200,000, 1110m
Bollente Bella, 2-year-old filly (Too Darn Hot (GB) x Trapani (GB) {Shamardal {USA}})
The very well-bred Bollente Bella (Too Darn Hot {GB}) makes her debut for her trainer Kris Lees in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben on Saturday. She has looked handy at the trials, including winning her last one nicely at Gosford over 800 metres on November 25.
Bollente Bella has a very strong international pedigree, she is out of the Shamardal (USA) mare Trapani (GB), who was a winner over 2400 metres in France.
Bollente Bella as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Trapani is a full sister to the Group 1 winner and Sire Crackerjack King (Ire), and the Listed winner Joyful Hope (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}).
She is also a half sister to the Group 1 winner and Sire Jakkalberry (Ire), the three-time Listed winner and Sire Kidnapping (Ire) and the Group 1 winner Awelmarduk (IRE) (Almutawakel {GB}).
Trapani has unfortunately not produced a live foal since producing Bollente Bella.
Bollente Bella was purchased for $200,000 from the Ridgmont draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Lees Racing, Australian Bloodstock, and Bahen Bloodstock.
Doomben, Race 9, 6.10pm, AEDT (5.10pm local), Listed Widden Stud Mode Stakes, $160,000, 1200m
Ernaux, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Booker {Written Tycoon})
The Chris Waller-trained Ernaux (I Am Invincible) has a crack at Listed company for the first time at Eagle Farm on Saturday, after scoring a deserved maiden win at Canterbury at her last start, which came on the back of some very solid consistent maiden form.
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 yea
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 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
La Basilique (I Am Invincible) - Was a lovely winner on the Kensington at very generous odds.
Plaintiff (Zoustar) and Daphnes (Street Boss {USA}) were both scratched, they will both keep for another day.
