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 very well-bred 3-year-old fillies by I Am Invincible, Snitzel and Justify (USA) chase maiden success at Canterbury on Friday night.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 6.30pm, AEDT, Jacquinot First Yearlings 2026 @ Widden 3YO Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1100m
Rajwa, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Red Lodge (USA) {Midshipman {USA}})
Canterbury's Friday night meeting will serve as the venue for Rajwa (I Am Invincible) to make her second start, she is a well-bred daughter of I Am Invincible from the Michael Freedman stable at Randwick.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park
On debut last August at Wyong she ran fourth, she was then straight away sent for a spell, and has prepared for her resuming run with a trial victory and a fourth at Randwick.
Rajwa is the fourth foal out of the handy filly Red Lodge (USA) (Midshipman {USA}). She was a dual winner in America as a juvenile including at Listed level.
She has already made an impact as a broodmare leaving three winners including the outstanding filly Manaal (Tassort), who has been a six-time winner including in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes, G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, G2 Furious Stakes, the G2 Golden Pendant, G2 Sheraco Stakes and the G3 Gimcrack Stakes.
In recent times Red Lodge has left a 2-year-old filly by Zoustar, a yearling colt by Justify (USA), and was served by Stay Inside last spring.
Canterbury Park, Race 4, 7.30pm, AEDT, The Agency Real Estate Handicap, $60,000, 1250m
Mediterra, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Traceablity {Charge Forward})
The well-bred Snitzel filly Mediterra is set to chase maiden success for her trainer Ciaron Maher at Canterbury on Friday night. The well-bred filly has failed to flatter in most of her previous raceday performances, but her last run for second at Gosford behind Sacrosanct (Snitzel) earlier this month was much improved.
Mediterra is the eighth-foal out of the Charge Forward mare Traceability, she was unraced, but is well bred with plenty of Group 1 performers and stallions in her pedigree including Master Of Design, Danasinga, Suntagonal (Octagonal), Tracy’s Element (Last Tycoon {Ire}), Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), Cullen, Towkay, Kylikwong (Red Ransom) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).
Mediterra as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Traceability since producing Mediterra, has left a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn) that Arrowfield sold to Mitch Freedman for $200,000 at the recently completed Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, before she sadly died in September last year.
Traceability has also had good success at stud leaving the South African Listed winner Traces (Snitzel), and the Group 3-placed colt in Spring Loaded (Redoute’s Choice).
Mediterra was purchased for $500,000 by Cambridge Stud from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Canterbury Park, Race 4, 7.30pm, AEDT, The Agency Real Estate Handicap, $60,000, 1250m
Just Maz, 3-year-old filly (Justfy (USA) x Marianne (NZ) {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Just Maz (Justify {USA}) is set to debut at Canterbury on Friday night over 1100 metres.
The Justify (USA) filly looked good winning at the Rosehill trials earlier in the month, and with jockey Nash Rawiller on board, looks a good each-way chance.
Just Maz as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Just Maz is the fourth live-foal out of the Listed winning Darci Brahma (NZ) mare Marianne (NZ). She has already made her mark as a broodmare leaving the G2 Tulloch Stakes winner Yaletown (Vancouver), among her two winners.
In recent years, Marianne has left a 2-year-old filly named Private Liaison (Home Affairs), a yearling filly by Justify, and was served by Home Affairs last spring.
Just Maz was purchased by Ryan and Alexiou Racing for $800,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Nostro Roccia (Pierro) - Was a lovely winner at Cranbourne at very good odds.
Vega Sicilia (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) - Was scratched from his race at Kembla Grange.
Nazwah (Capitalist) - Was also scratched from her race at Kembla Grange.
