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.
Two promising 3-year-old fillies by Farnan and Capitalist chase success across Australia on Saturday.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Form Genius 3YO Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1112m
Alphabet, 3-year-old filly (Farnan x Carribean Sunset (Ire) {Danehill Dancer {Ire}})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Alphabet (Farnan) will make her fourth start over 1112 metres at Geelong on Tuesday. She has run two very good placings in her career and looks hard to beat in this race.
Alphabet is very well-bred, she is a daughter of Caribbean Sunset (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who was a three-time Group 3 winner in Ireland and once at Listed level in the United States.
Alphabet as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has gone onto become a very good broodmare leaving six winners, the best of them have been Holbien (Pierro) who has won seven times including in the Listed Lord Stakes, she has also left the stakes placed duo of Amenable (lonhro) and Lovani (Lonhro).
Carribean Sunset since producing Alphabet, has left a yearling filly by Captivant, before she sadly died last year.
Alphabet was purchased for $180,000 by Anthony Freedman Racing from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 3, 3.05pm AEDT, Carlton Dry 3.5% Benchmark 64 Handicap, $42,000, 1000m
Nazwah, 3-year-old filly (Capitalist x Najoom {Northern Meteor})
The Peter Snowden-trained Nazwah (Capitalist) resumes at Kembla Grange on Tuesday. She made quite an impact winning on debut impressively at Gosford last July, and after disappointing at Randwick later that month, was put away and resumes here.
Nazwah is the fifth live foal, and fifth winner from Najoom (Northern Meteor), a five-time winner including the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas and G3 Fred Best Classic. Najoom has already produced the Group 1 winning filly Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) and dual Listed winner Najmaty (I Am Invincible).
Nazwah as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Nazwah might be remembered as the one that got away for potential buyers, not just once, but twice. She was passed in at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, failing to meet her $300,000 reserve, and again at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale where she was offered as an unraced 2-year-old and passed in at $560,000 narrowly short of her $600,000 reserve.
Najoom foaled a Tassort filly in September, and was subsequently served by Home Affairs.
Looking Back
Sunday 18/1/26
Admire Fluke (Admire Mars {Jpn}) - Was a dominant winner at Wangaratta. He looks to have a good future over staying trips.
Nostro Roccia (Pierro) - Was scratched from his race, he will keep for another day.
