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.
3-year-old runners by Kingman (GB), Ghaiyyath (Ire) and Farnan chase success across Australia on Wednesday.
Sportsbet Sandown Hillside, Race 1, 3.40pm AEDT, Mornington Peninsula 3MP Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1000m
Arlington Row, 3-year-old filly (Kingman (GB) x Four Leaf Clover (Ire) {Galileo {Ire})
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Arlington Row (Kingman {GB}) is set to make her debut at Sandown Hillside on on Wednesday over 1000 metres.
The Glentree bred and raced filly has a beautiful pedigree, she is by the international superstar stallion in Kingman (GB) and is out of the unplaced Galileo (Ire) mare Four Leaf Clover (Ire).
Kingman (GB) | Standing at Juddmonte Farm
She is a full sister to the G1 Irish St Leger winner Flag Of Honour (Ire), the Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed Air Chief Marshal (Ire), and the Listed winner Slip Dance (Ire) (Celtic Swing {GB}).
Four Leaf Clover in recent times, has not had a lot of luck, missing to I Am Invincible, and producing a dead Wootton Bassett (GB) filly, but she was due to foal to Alabama Express last spring.
Sportsbet Sandown Hillside, Race 6, 6.30pm AEDT, Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics 3YO Handicap, $35,000, 1300m
Crocodile, 3-year-old gelding (Ghaiyyath (Ire) x Monogram {Medaglia D’Oro {USA})
The well-related Crocodile (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) is set to have his fourth start for Ben, Will and JD Hayes at Sandwon Hillside on Wednesday. He won well at Hawkesbury back in May last year, and after failing at Rosehill the next month, he was put away for a spell and gelded, and he resumes here after two nice jump-outs at Flemington.
Crocodile is a son of Darley’s Ghaiyyath (Ire) and is the third foal from the Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Monogram. She was a five-time winner on the track and has already left the classy Character (Teofilo {Ire}) who has won the G2 Queensland Guineas and the G2 Tullooch Stakes among his six wins.
Ghaiyyath (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Monogram is a half-sister to Tarquin (Hard Spun {USA}) who was a six-time winner including in the G2 Pago Pago Stakes.
Monogram, since producing Crocodile, has produced a 2-year-old by Kermedec (NZ) named Definition, a colt foal by Triple Time (Ire), and was served by City Of Troy (USA) last spring.
Kensington, Race 1, 2.20pm AEDT, Schweppes 2YO & 3YO Handicap, $100,000, 1250m
Kokatahi (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Farnan x Diva Von Tessa {Testa Rossa})
The well-bred Kokatahi (NZ) (Farnan) is set to make his fourth career start on Wednesday on the Kensington for trainer-Chris Waller.
He ran three very good placings in his first preparation, and since having a break, he has had two trials to prepare himself for his resuming run.
Kokatahi is the sixth live-foal out of Diva Von Tessa (Testa Rossa) who was a winner over 1200 metres. She has left three winners so far as a broodmare.
Kokatahi as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Further back in the family are the outstanding Group One winners All Too Hard, Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), Magnus, Nepotism (Brutal {NZ}), and Ole Kirk.
Diva Von Tessa since leaving Kokatahi, has produced a yearling filly by Ocean Park (NZ), her filly foal by The Chosen One (NZ) sadly died after birth, and he has since been served by Home Affairs.
Kokatahi was purchased by Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale for NZ$425,000 from the Milan Park draft.
Looking Back
Alphabet (Farnan) - Ran a solid enough fifth at Geelong.
Nazwah (Capitalist) - Unfortunately the Kembla Grange meeting was abandoned, so Nazwah will have to wait for another day.
