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 exciting 2-year-olds by Frosted (USA), Spirit Of Boom and Capitalist chase maiden success across Australia on Saturday.
Caulfield, Race 7, 3.40pm AEDT, The TBV VOBIS Platinum Showdown, $1,000,000, 1200m
Jourama, 2-year-old gelding (Frosted (USA) x Spring Waterfall (Ire) {Exceed And Excel})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Jourama (Frosted {USA}) makes his second start at Caulfield over 1200 metres on Saturday.
He ran a very nice race for second on debut at Newcastle behind She’s Extra (Exceedance) back in the middle of last month, and from that experience should only have derived benefit leading into this big race.
Frosted (USA) | Standing at Darley
Jourama is the fourth foal out of Spring Waterfall (Ire) (Exceed And Excel), she was a winner in France and is a half-sister to the Champion filly Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), who Arrowfield Stud just recently announced that she sadly died at age of 22.
It is a very strong family, with another Group 1 winner featuring in Miss Finland’s daughter Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}).
In recent years, Spring Waterfall has produced an Earthlight (Ire) yearling filly, and was served by Victor Ludorum (GB) last spring.
Aquis Park Gold Coast, Race 6, 4.08pm AEDT (3.08pm local), Aquis QTIS Jewel 2YO, $500,000, 1200m
Final Crusade, 2-year-old colt (Spirit Of Boom x Pure Purrfection {General Nediym})
The well-bred Final Crusade (Spirit Boom) chases the big money on the Gold Coast on Saturday for his trainer Tony Gollan.
On debut he looked the winner the whole way apart from when it counted when defeated by his classy stablemate Boomtowns (Written Tycoon) at Eagle Farm late last month. From the ace barrier n Saturday, he maps to get a lovely run in a race where the pace should be on around the tight Gold Coast circuit.
Final Crusade as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Final Crusade is the last foal out of the Listed winner Pure Purrfection (General Nediym), who has also been a star as a broodmare, leaving the four-time Listed winner Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom) and the Listed winner Barbie’s Sister (Spirit Of Boom).
Other well-performed stakes winners within this family include Hi Barbie (I Am Invincible), She’s Purring (Flying Spur), Global Warming (Agnes World {USA}), and the classy Weeping Woman (Lonhro).
Final Crusade was purchased for $575,000 by Gollan Racing, John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) and Blacksoil Racing from the Eureka Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Ipswich, Race 1, 1.29pm AEDT (12.29pm local), TAB QTIS 2YO Maiden Plate, $30,000, 1200m
Naughty Neil, 2-year-old gelding (Capitalist x My Brilliant Choix {Choisir})
The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Naughty Neil (Capitalist) looks very hard to beat at Ipswich on Saturday over 1200 metres. He ran a solid race for third at Doomben on debut earlier in the month, and looks to have a chance to get a nice run on-speed from his handy barrier of four.
Naughty Neil as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Naughty Neil is out of the Choisir mare My Brilliant Choix, who was a winner over 1650 metres, she is well-related being a half-sister to French Emotion (Snitzel), who was an eight-time winner up to a mile, including in the G2 Blazer Stakes and the G2 Queen Of The South Stakes, as well as placing in the G1 Myer Classic.
This is also the extended family of the Group 1 Australian Oaks winner My Brilliant Star (Copper Kingdon {USA}) and her Group 1 winning son and sire Shot Of Thunder.
Sadly, Naughty Neil, was My Brilliant Choix’s only live-foal before she died in August 2024. Naughty Neil was purchased for $13,000 by N Boyle from the Inglis Digital March Sale.
Looking Back:
Butterscotch (The Autumn Sun) - Ran a close-up second at Kyneton, she is getting close to a win.
Headbanger (Capitalist) - Was a very impressive at Cranbourne, she was simply too quick for her opposition.
