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 well-bred 3-year-old fillies by Alabama Express, Kingman (GB), and Ardrossan chase maiden success at Cranbourne and Colac on Friday.
Southside Cranbourne, Race 1, 6.15pm AEDT, The Valley @ Southside Cranbourne Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1000m
Balance, 3-year-old filly (Alabama Express x Honey Esprit {Bel Esprit})
The Clinton McDonald-trained Balance (Alabama Express) makes her debut on Friday evening on her local track over 1000 metres. She has had three local jump-outs to prepare herself for her debut and will be ridden by Jamie Melham.
Balance is the second foal out of the six-time winner Honey Esprit (Bel Esprit), a full sister to the Listed GH Mumm Stakes winner Honey Flower (Bel Esprit). This is the extended family of the talented stakes winners Immortal Love (Snitzel), Written Beauty (Written Tycoon) and Ducimus.
Balance as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing Balance, Honey Esprit has left a Grunt (NZ) yearling colt, an Exceedance filly foal and was subsequently served by Alabama Express.
Balance was purchased by Clinton McDonald and Shane McGrath for $220,000 from the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale
Southside Cranbourne, Race 2, 6.45pm AEDT, Musk Creek Farm Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1200m
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 second start on her home track at Cranbourne on Friday night over 1200 metres.
She ran a great race on debut for second at Sandown behind Fast ‘N’ Inzaine (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), and with natural improvement off that effort, looks a great chance to claim maiden success.
Kingman (GB) | Standing at Juddmonte
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).
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.
Bet365 Colac, Race 2, 2.30pm AEDT, Mortimer Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1200m
Kiwi Harmony (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Ardrossan x Do Ra Mi (NZ) {Savabeel})
The well-related Kiwi Harmony (NZ) (Ardrossan) is set to make her fifth start at Colac on Friday over 1200 metres for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Her form has been mixed but from a good draw and in the hands of Teo Nugent she looks a good each-way chance.
Kiwi Harmony is a daughter of Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan and is the eighth live foal out of the Savabeel mare Do Ra Mi (NZ) who was the winner of the G2 Kewney Stakes on the track.
She has proven to be a reliable broodmare leaving five winners incuding the Group placed Hanger (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Kiwi Harmony as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She has a very solid pedigree and some of the stakes winners that feature include Unique Jewellery (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), Marju Snip (NZ) (Marju {Ire}), and Candide (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}).
Since producing Kiwi Harmony, Do Ra Mi has left a 2-year-old gelding by Banquo named Justin Case (NZ), who was his sires first winner at Matamata last month, and was due to foal to the same stallion last spring.
Kiwi Harmony was purchased by Dalziel Bloodstock and Moody Racing for $100,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Captain Blood (Sword Of State) - Ran an honest third on debut at Pakenham.
Charka (Exceed And Excel) - Led all the way to win nicely at Gosford.
Nafanua (Tagaloa) - Was scratched from her race at Gosford, she will keep for another day.
