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 promising runners by Maurice (Jpn), Snitzel and Ardrossan chase success across Australia on Wednesday.
Caulfield Heath, Race 1, 3.40pm AEDT, Sportsbet Race Previews Maiden Plate, $55,000, 1500m
Cannae, 3-year-old gelding (Maurice (Jpn) x Enjaaz {I Am Invincible})
The Danny O’Brien-trained Cannae (Maurice {Jpn}) lines up for his second start on the Caulfield Heath on Wednesday after running a very promising fast-finishing fourth on debut at Sandown behind Loud Charlie (Prague) late last month.
Cannae is the second foal out of Enjaaz (I Am Invincible), she was unraced, but has some great blood, being by ‘Vinnie’ and out of the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and R. Listed Inglis 2YO Classic winner Peggy Jean (Myboycharlie {Ire}).
Cannae as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This is also the extended family of the dual Group 1 winner Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and the Group winners Fifth Avenue Lady (Encosta De Lago, Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock), Missrock (Fastnet Rock) and Aussies Love Sport (Redoute’s Choice).
Enjaaz, since producing Cannae, has left a 2-year-old colt by Russian Revolution, a yearling filly by Capitalist, and a filly foal by Brave Smash (Jpn).
Cannae was purchased by Danny O’Brien Racing for $20,000 from the Emirates Park draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Caulfield Heath, Race 3, 4.50pm AEDT, Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives B64 Handicap, $55,000, 1200m
Shinjina, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) {Stravinsky {USA}})
The promising Shinjina (Snitzel) looks a great chance on the Heath on Wednesday for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. She is building up a nice record after winning her maiden last August, and looks a great chance second-up on the back of her resuming run for second at Pakenham late last month.
Shinjina’s dam Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) was a five-time winner and was successful at Group 2 level, and Listed level twice as a juvenile. She has gone onto become an outstanding broodmare, leaving nine winners, including Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock) who won the G3 Chairman’s Stakes, and has already proven herself as a broodmare leaving the classy Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) who was the Champion 2-year-old filly in Australia, picking up the G2 Reisling Stakes, G3 Widden Stakes and the R. Listed Inglis 2YO Millenium.
Shinjina as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Hips Don’t Lie is also the dam of the young Coolmore Stud sire in Acrobat, and Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock), who won the Listed William Crockett Stakes, and placed in the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
In recent years, Hips Don’t Lie has left a 2-year-old filly named La Gitana (Home Affairs) who placed at Group 3 level behind the exciting Big Sky (Bivouac) on debut, and a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB).
Shinjina was purchased by Kia Ora Stud and TFI for $1.1 million from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Eagle Farm, Race 2, 3.13pm AEDT (2.13pm local), The Gibson Maiden Plate, $40,000, 1400m
Tam Na Ghar (NZ), 4-year-old mare (Ardrossan x Royal Queen (NZ) {His Royal Highness {NZ}})
The Jack Bruce-trained Tam Na Ghar (NZ) (Ardrossan) makes her third start at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, she was brave on debut, running a fast-finishing third on the Sunshine Coast on January 11 behind Better Not Slip (Better Than Ready). She then ran an honest on-speed second at Eagle Farm earlier this month behind Hermione Prancer (Toronado {Ire}).
From barrier four, she maps beautifully and looks a great each-way chance in the hands of jockey Daniel Moor.
Ardrossan | Standing at Waikato Stud
Tam Na Ghar’s dam Royal Queen (NZ) (His Royal Highness {NZ}) was a five-time winner up to 1400 metres in New Zealand, and she also ran fourth in the G3 Thompson Handicap.
The family is a bit quiet on the close-up black-type front, but Tam Na Ghar’s third dam was the Listed winner Zetoile (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}).
Unfortunately Tam Na Ghar was her dam’s last foal as she died back in 2022.
Looking Back:
Sealand (Tassort) - Finished well back in eighth.
Lovesexy (NZ) (Banquo) - Half a length in front of Sealand when seventh.
