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 2-year-olds by Home Affairs, Prague and Sword Of State take aim at stakes races at Flemington and Randwick on Saturday.
Flemington, Race 1, 12.15pm AEDT, Listed TAB We’re On 2YO, $175,000, 1000m
La Gitana, 2-year-old filly (Home Affairs x Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) {Stravinsky {USA}})
The promising La Gitana (Home Affairs) looks a good each-way chance at Flemington on Saturday for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. She ran a solid third at Group 3 level behind Big Sky (Bivouac) in late January, and after unfortunately being late scratched at Morphettville recently, she looks to get her campaign back on track.
La Gitana’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.
La Gitana as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
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.
Hips Don’t Lie is also the dam of the young Coolmore Stud sire in Acrobat, and Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock), she 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 filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB), before missing to Storm Boy and So You Think (NZ) last spring.
La Gitana was purchased by James Bester Bloodstock for $400,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Royal Randwick, Race 4, 2.15pm AEDT, Sintoro G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, $300,000, 1200m
Pembrey, 2-year-old filly (Prague x Se Sauver {Bel Esprit})
The Tony Gollan-trained Pembrey (Prague) heads south to Sydney to take her place in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
She made quite the impact on debut, bolting away to win by a widening five and a half lengths at Eagle Farm on February 14. On Saturday James McDonald takes the reins and with the prospect of a potentially wet track, she looks a great chance for her owners Kia Ora Stud who are enjoying a good time of it lately with Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) winning the G1 Oakleigh Plate last weekend.
Pembrey as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pembrey is out of the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner Se Sauver (Bel Esprit), who has produced nine runners to race for eight winners, with the best of them being the three-time winner Amplify (Microphone) who has also placed in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet.
Se Sauver is well-related being a half-sister to the Matt Laurie-trained G1 South Australian Derby winner Escado (Casino Prince), who was also successful in another two Group 3 staying races.
Pembrey was offered by Vinery Stud at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2 where she failed to meet her $20,000 reserve, she is now raced by her breeders Kia Ora Stud, who also stand her sire Prague.
Royal Randwick, Race 5, 2.50pm AEDT, Catanach’s Jewellers G2 Skyline Stakes, $300,000, 1200m
Warwoven, 2-year-old colt (Sword Of State x Needle And Thread {Makfi {GB}})
The Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven (Sword Of State) chases his third in the G2 Skyline Stakes on Saturday over 1200 metres.
He was a very impressive winner at Randwick on debut, backed that up with a sensational win at Eagle Farm, and this will be his first appearance since then after being dramatically scratched on raceday morning as a very warm favourite in the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic.
Warwoven as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Warwoven is the first foal out of the Group 2 winning mare Needle And Thread (Makfi {GB}), Needle And Thread is also a half sister to the Listed winner and multiple Group 1 placed stallion Savile Row (NZ).
Another member of this very strong family is the dual Group 1 winner and stallion The Gurkha (Ire), and the Group-1 placed Arrogant (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Needle And Thread, in recent years, has produced a Farnan yearling colt who is entered as Lot 671 at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, a Farnan filly foal and missed to both Ole Kirk and Farnan last spring.
Warwoven was purchased by Ridgmont, Bjorn Baker Racing, S & J Gosling and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) for $380,000 from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Barracks (Home Affairs) - Was scratched from his race at Canterbury, he runs at Newcastle on Saturday instead.
Avengers (Snitzel) - Was an honest fourth on debut at Canterbury.
Arlington Row (Kingman {GB}) - Was a very nice winner at Cranbourne, she has a nice future.
