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 talented 3-year-olds by Nicconi, Proisir and Per Incanto (USA) chase success across Australia on Thursday.
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, HRC Motel Maiden Handicap, $42,000, 1000m
Texas, 3-year-old gelding (Nicconi x Outlaw Kate {Exceed And Excel})
The sharply-bred Texas (Nicconi) makes his debut for trainer Bjorn Baker at Hawkesbury on Thursday. He has looked talented at the trials and it would be no surprise to see him very competitive in this event with Tommy Berry aboard.
Texas is out of the 2-year-old winner and Listed placed Outlaw Kate (Exceed And Excel), she has already shown her class as a broodmare, leaving Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready) who won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Texas as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Outlaw Kate is also very well-related being a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) and out of the Listed winning juvenile She’s Got Gears (Invincible Spirit).
Outlaw Kate, in recent times, has produced a 2-year-old filly named Gunpowder Boom (Spirit Of Boom), a colt foal by Better Than Ready, and was subsequently served by Better Than Ready again.
Texas was purchased for $220,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy from the Lyndhurst Stud Farm draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Southside Pakenham, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Mega Multi Maiden Plate, $45,000, 1400m
Seychelles (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Proisir x Donna Marie (NZ) {Don Eduardo {NZ}})
The well-bred Seychelles (NZ) (Proisir) will make her fourth start at Pakenham on Thursday for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
She has run three solid races in strong company in her first preparation, placing twice. She has since had a good break and a couple of jump-outs to prepare herself for her resuming assignment.
This promising filly is the sixth foal from Donna Marie (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), Donna Marie was placed on the track in both New Zealand and Australia but she has excelled as a broodmare.
Seychelles (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She has left four winners including the classy filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) who was an eight-time winner and successful in the G1 New Zealand Stakes and the G1 Vinery Stakes, she has also left the Listed placed and winner over 1400 metres in Ajay Tee (NZ) (Foxwedge).
In recent times, Donna Marie has left a 2-year-old Proisir filly, a yearling filly by Proisir, and she was due to foal to Chaldean (GB) last spring.
Seychelles was purchased from the draft of Hallmark Stud by Moody Racing for NZ$1.6 million at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale.
Southside Pakenham, Race 4, 7.15pm AEDT, Superior Food Services B66 Handicap, $40,000, 1000m
Trapper John (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Per Incanto (USA) x My Hope (NZ) {Howbaddouwantit {USA}})
The Clinton McDonald-trained Trapper John (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) lines up for his second start at Pakenham on Thursday on the back of a very impressive win on debut at Sandown late last month.
That win looks even better now, as the filly he beat Headbanger (Capitalist), has come out and franked the form by winning her next start at Cranbourne by a widening eight lengths.
Trapper John (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Trapper John is out of the unraced Howbaddouwantit (USA) mare My Hope (NZ). She has left three winners, and is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Exinite (NZ) (Lord Ballina) and the Listed winner Vitrinite (NZ) (Lord Ballina).
This is also the family of the G1 Queensland Oaks and G1 Queensland Derby winner Royal Magic (NZ) (Lord Ballina).
Trapper John was originally purchased for $130,000 from the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by JCS Thoroughbreds. Before he was put through the 2024 Inglis Sydney Ready to Race sale where Shane McGrath Bloodstock purchased the gelding for $150,000 from the JCS Thoroughbreds draft.
Looking Back:
Cannae (Maurice {Jpn}) - Was a tough and tenacious winner on the Caulfield Heath at his second start.
Shinjina (Snitzel) - Disappointed when running fourth on the Heath after appearing to have every chance.
Tom Na Ghar (NZ) (Ardrossan) - Won nicely at Eagle Farm, it was a determined effort and she deserved maiden success.
