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-year-old runners by Admire Mars (Jpn) and Pierro chase maiden success at Wodonga on Sunday.
Picklebet Park Wodonga, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, Cafe Borellas Maiden Plate, $42,500, 2050m
Admire Fluke, 3-year-old gelding (Admire Mars (Jpn) x Northern Model {Northern Meteor})
The Matt Laurie-trained Admire Fluke (Admire Mars {Jpn}) looks very hard to beat at Wodonga on Sunday over 2050 metres. The promising staying gelding caught the eye when running over 1600 metres at Cranbourne on debut last month.
Admire Fluke is out of Northern Model (Northern Meteor), she was a two-time winning sprinter and ran fourth in the Listed William Crockett Stakes. She has already left two winners, including Noisy Boy (Real Steel {Jpn}), who has been a three-time winner and been Group placed in both Australia and Hong Kong.
Admire Fluke as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Admire Fluke comes from the extended family of the dual Group 2 winner Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}), the young sire Kiss And Make Up, and the star filly Fashions Afield (Redoute’s Choice), who was successful at Group 1 level as a 2-year-old and as a 3-year-old.
Northern Model, in recent years has left a yearling filly by Astern, a foal colt by In The Congo, and was served by Starlust (GB) last spring.
Admire Fluke was purchased by Hong Kong Bloodstock for $40,000 from the Riverstone Lodge draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Picklebet Park Wodonga, Race 5, 3.40pm AEDT, Vale Frank Hanrahan Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1400m
Nostro Roccia, 3-year-old gelding (Pierro x Batemans Bay {Exceed And Excel})
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Nostro Roccia (Pierro) resumes as a gelding at Wodonga on Sunday. The son of Pierro ran two honest races in his first campaign finishing fourth both times, and he has looked good at the trials since he had a break.
Nostro Roccia is the first foal out of the unraced Exceed And Excel mare Batemans Bay. She comes from a strong family with the stakes winners Marianne (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Yaletown (Vancouver), and Prairie Flower (Star Turn) featuring.
Nostro Roccia as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Batemans Bay, in recent times has produced a 2-year-old colt named Malua Bay (Pierro), a yearling filly by Home Affairs who is catalogued as Lot 130 at this years Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, a foal colt by Spirit Of Boom, and was served again by Spirit Of Boom last spring,
Fernrigg Farm originally purchased the gelding from the 2023 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale for $40,000, before he was on-sold at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale where Busuttin Racing paid $80,000 from the Fernrigg Farm draft.
Looking Back
Knightsbridge (Farnan) - Strong winner on resumption, heads to Magic Millions next.
Contemplates (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) - Beaten five lengths when running ninth.
Warwoven (Sword Of State) - Stylish winner, one to keep watching,
