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.
A promising Satono Aladdin (Jpn) gelding makes his debut at Hawkesbury, while exciting Bivouac and I Am Invincible 3-year-olds go head-to-head at Rosehill.
Hawkesbury, Race 5, 4.06pm AEDT, Skinner Earthmoving Midway Maiden Handicap, $45,000, 1300m
Vega Sicilia, 3-year-old gelding (Satono Aladdin (Jpn) x Nancy Spain (NZ) {Charm Spirit {Ire}})
The Richard and Will Freedman-trained Vega Sicilia (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) will debut at Hawkesbury on Sunday over 1300 metres. He has had plenty of educational trials and will be ridden by jockey Lee Magorrian from a wide gate.
Vega Sicilia as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The promising gelding is out of Nancy Spain (NZ) (Charm Spirit {NZ}) who was a winner over 1100 metres. His grandam Lucia Bella (Fastnet Rock) was a winner over 1200 metres, and is very well-related being a full sister to the G1 Goodwood Handicap winner Lone Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Nancy Spain, in recent years has left a Tagaloa yearling filly, and foaled an In The Congo colt in October.
Vega Sicilia was purchased by Richard and Will Freedman Stables from the Blue Gum Farm draft for $60,000 from the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 5, 2.35pm AEDT, Asahi Super Dry 3YO Handicap, $160,000, 1200m
Loving, 3-year-old gelding (Bivouac x Maternal {Street Cry {Ire}})
The well-bred Loving (Bivouac), is set to make his fourth start over 1200 metres for trainer Bjorn Baker at Rosehill on Sunday. He previously had won two of his three starts for James Cummings and his owners Godolphin.
The promising gelding is the fourth live foal out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Maternal, who was a six-time winner including in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic. She has already proven to be successful as a broodmare leaving four winners including the four-time winner and Listed fourth-placed Camaquey (Teofilo {Ire}) and Shipshape (Astern) who has won twice and been placed at metropolitan level.
Bivouac | Standing at Darley
Loving is also well-related with his grandam being the very classy Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) who was a four-time Group 1 winner on the track including in the G1 Emirates Stakes, G1 Toorak Handicap, G1 Myer Classic, and the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
This is also the family of the outstanding sprinter Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}), the winner of the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, and likely future stallion at Darley Stud.
Since Producing Loving, Maternal has left a 2-year-old colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) called Accompany, a yearling colt by Microphone, and missed to Shamus Award last spring, before she sadly died in August.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 5, 2.35pm AEDT, Asahi Super Dry 3YO Handicap, $160,000, 1200m
Plaintiff, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Prompt {Exceed And Excel})
The superbly-bred Plaintiff (Zoustar) is set to attempt to make it two starts for two wins at Rosehill on Sunday.
She was an impressive winner on the same track on debut over 1200 metres, when defeating Jaegers (Bivouac) by just over a length in the middle of last month.
Plaintiff is out of the talented Beneteau mare Prompt Response, a six-time winner whose victories included the G1 Tattersalls Tiara, G2 Emancipation Stakes, G2 Breeders’ Classic, G2 Dane Ripper Stakes, and the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes.
Plaintiff as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She is also very well-related with her full brother Prompt Return (Beneteau) winning seven times including in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate, Diamond Glow (Bel Esprit) is a half-sister, and she was a smart 2-year-old placing in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (f).
Unfortunately Plaintiff was Prompt Response’s last foal as she sadly died earlier this year, the mare has been a star at stud in the sales ring, all from the draft of Widden Stud.
Her first foal Big Demeanor (I Am Invincible) sold for $500,000 to Annabel Neasham and Brian McGuire at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Sister Cynane (I Am Invincible) sold for $1.3 million to Wexford Stables at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and Plaintiff sold for $2.3 million to James Harron Bloodstock at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Inhabit (Stay Inside) - Ran a well-beaten third at Morphettville, hopefully everything is okay with the promising filly.
Bollente Bella (Too Darn Hot {GB}) - Ran a solid enough fifth on debut at Doomben.
Ernaux (I Am Invincible) - Gained valuable black-type placing third at Doomben, she is a very well-bred filly so that is a great result for Resolute Racing.
