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 well-bred types by I Am Invincible, Lonhro and Home Affairs chase maiden success across Australia on Friday.
Bendigo, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, My Hair Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1000m
Celtics, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Enbihaar {Magnus})
The very well-bred Celtics (I Am Invincible) resumes on Friday at Bendigo for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr over 1000 metres. He showed some good form placing at Kilmore and Geelong at the end of his last preparation, and after a break and a couple of jump-out wins at Cranbourne he looks ready to go.
The I Am Invincible colt is the third foal out of the smart juvenile Enbihaar (Magnus), she won twice as a 2-year-old including in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies), and was also placed in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Celtics | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She has then went on to become a super broodmare leaving the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who sold for $2.4 million to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock at last year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Enbihaar also sold at last year’s Chairman’s Sale for $1.6 million and is now in the hands of Yulong, she has a Too Darn Hot (GB) yearling colt who sells via the Widden Stud draft as Lot 288 at this years Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, a Zoustar weanling filly and was served by Alabama Express last season.
Enbihaar is also a full sister to the smart Miss Celine (Magnus), who won the Listed Debutant Stakes on debut as a juvenile.
Celtics was purchased by Rosemont Stud, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Mick Price Racing for $700,000 from the Kulani Park draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bendigo, Race 2, 2pm AEDT, Bendigo Ford 3YO Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1000m
Cabriole, 3-year-old gelding (Lonhro x Flit {Medaglia D’Oro {USA})
The well-related Cabriole (Lonhro) is set to chase maiden success for Anthony and Sam Freedman, and owners Godolphin at start number three at Bendigo over 1000 metres.
He ran a very good third on debut behind Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) - who has gone on to win two Group 1 races - in maiden grade back in June, then he ran another good third behind St Edward (I Am Invincible) at Moonee Valley in October.
After that run he had a nice break and has prepared for this resuming run with two winning efforts at the Cranbourne jump-outs this month.
Cabriole is the first foal from the Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Flit. She was a very talented four-time winner on the track, including in the G1 Thousand Guineas, G2 Light Fingers Stakes, G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and the Silver Eagle.
Lonhro | Image courtesy of Darley
Flit is very well-related being out of the Group-3 placed Glissade (Redoute’s Choice), and a half-sister to the stakes placed Flow (Street Cry {USA}), and Speedway (Street Cry {USA}) who is the dam of the outstanding Champion 2-year-old and now sire Broadsiding, who was a winner at the elite level in the G1 Champagne Stakes, G1 Golden Rose, G1 Rosehill Guineas, and the G1 JJ Atkins Plate.
Flit since producing Cabriole, has produced a 2-year-old filly called Scoot (Street Boss {USA}), a weanling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), and was subsequently served by Too Darn Hot again last spring.
Southside Cranbourne, Race 3, 6.45pm AEDT, Summerset Retirement Village Cranbourne North 2YO Maiden Plate , $45,000, 1000m
Covert Action, 2-year-old colt (Home Affairs x Secret Agenda {Not A Single Doubt})
The well-bred Covert Action (Home Affairs) is set to make his debut at Cranbourne on Friday night for trainers Shane Nichols and Hayden Black.
He has had three jump-outs in the hands of race day rider Zac Spain, and has ran second in all three of them. So he looks ready for this assignment, although he does have a tricky wide draw.
Covert Action as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
His dam is Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt), who was an outstanding seven-time winner including at Group 1 level in the Robert Sangster Stakes, she also won another three Group races and a Listed event in her career.
Secret Agenda is also a sister to Star Pauline (Not A Single Doubt) who was Group placed and a half-sister to another three stakes performers including Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun), Donandkim (Smart Missile), and Sweetener (Snitzel).
Since producing Covert Action, Secret Agenda has left a yearling filly by Zoustar who sells as Lot 72 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Cressfield draft, before she sadly died in December last year.
Covert Action was purchased by Shane Nichols Racing for $150,000 from Cressfield at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
Looking Back:
Humble Trader (Hanseatic) - Was scratched from his race at Pakenham, he will keep for another day.
Crusader Voyage (Camelot {GB}) - Ran second at Hawkesbury, he was only run down in the last few strides.
