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 runners by Capitalist and Circus Maximus (Ire) chase maiden success at Pakenham on Thursday night.
Southside Pakenham, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Precision Mechanical Services 2YO Maiden Plate, $40,000, 1000m
Rich On Bubbles, 2-year-old gelding (Capitalist x Champagne Boom {Spirit Of Boom})
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Rich On Bubbles (Capitalist) makes his second start at Pakenham on Thursday, he only had one run in the spring when last in the Listed Maribyrnong Plate.
He has since had a break and won a jump-out and trial nicely at Werribee and Geelong, so looks primed to run well in a fresh state on Thursday.
Rich On Bubbles as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Rich On Bubbles is out of the classy Listed Debutant Stakes winner Champagne Boom (Spirit Of Boom), so he is bred to go early. He is also a half-brother to Stoli Bolli (Deep Field) who has been a dual winner and has been Listed placed.
Champagne Boom, in recent times has left an In The Congo yearling colt, an Ozzmosis colt foal, and was served by Extreme Choice last December.
Rich On Bubbles was purchased by Lindsay Park Racing for $200,000 from the draft of Kingstar Farm at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Southside Pakenham, Race 3, 6.45pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Future Stars Series Heat 9 Maiden, $65,000, 1200m
Stuntman (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Circus Maximus (Ire) x Viviane (NZ) (Volksraad {GB})
The OTI Racing-owned with partners and Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Stuntman (NZ) makes his debut on Thursday night at Pakenham.
He is the thirteenth and last foal out of Viviane (NZ) (Volksrrad {GB}), who was placed on the track in New Zealand, but has gone on to produce seven winners at stud, with the best of them being Cismontane (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who was the winner of the G3 Lexus Stakes at Flemington.
Stuntman (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Some Group 1 winners that feature a little bit lower in the pedigree include Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), Nimue (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) and Sirstaci (NZ) (Silver Dream {GB}).
Stuntman was passed in short of his NZ$60,000 reserve at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Woodrow (Exceed And Excel) -Ran well but outclassed when finishing fourth.
Castagnola (So You Think {NZ}) - Fourth by a touch under two lengths, after more ground.
