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.
Two exciting 2-year-olds by Home Affairs, Snitzel and So You Think (NZ) chase success across Australia on Saturday.
Flemington, Race 3, 2pm AEDT, G3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, $200,000, 1200m
Gin Twist, 2-year-old filly (Home Affairs x Twist Tops {Beneteau})
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Gin Twist (Home Affairs) chases her second stakes win in a row at Flemington on Saturday.
She was a very impressive winner over the same distance and on the same track last time out, and it doesn't look like carrying 2kg more than her rivals will be of any real hindrance.
Gin Twist as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Gin Twist is one of three stakes winners for her sire Home Affairs, who sired the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes victor Guest House last weekend. She is the fifth foal out of Twist Tops (Beneteau), who won the R. Listed Inglis 2YO Classic and placed in the G2 Magic Night Stakes. She has had the four foals to race for four winners.
This is the extended family of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling (Ivory’s Irish) and the Listed winner and sire Fighting Sun.
Twist Tops, in recent times, has left a yearling colt by Home Affairs, and unfortunately missed to Starlust (GB) last spring.
Gin Twist was purchased for $220,000 by Lindsay Park Racing from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Wyong, Race 4, 3.10pm AEDT, Camp Quality 2YO Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1200m
Tenenbaum, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x C’Est Beau La Vie (Bernardini {USA})
The Brad Widdup-trained Tenenbaum (Snitzel) chases maiden success at Wyong on Saturday over 1200 metres. He had one run last November when running a sound sixth at Newcastle, he has since had a break, and three trials including a recent trial win at Randwick on March 16 to prepare for his resuming run.
Tenenbaum is the sixth foal out of Listed winner C’Est Beau La Vie (Bernardini {USA}), who has already excelled as a broodmare, producing Cap Ferrat (Snitzel) - in addition to his Hong Kong Derby success he was a three-time Group 1-placegetter in Australia and Hong Kong, and a $1.4 million Inglis Easter graduate.
Tenenbaum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
It is a pedigree steeped in elite staying and classic talent. C’Est Beau La Vie is a half-sister to two stakes winners, while her dam Valkyrie Diva (Jade Robbery {USA}) was a Group 3 winner and notably a half-sister to the legendary late Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), the seven-time Group 1 winner and triple Melbourne Cup heroine.
C’Est Beau La Vie has continued to produce quality stock, with a Snitzel yearling colt, a foal colt by Dundeel (NZ), and she was subsequently served by Anamoe last spring.
Tenenbaum himself was a $750,000 purchase by Mulberry Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Morphettville, Race 5, 2.42pm AEDT (2.12pm local), Listed Sportsbet Dequetteville Stakes , $120,000, 1050m
Almost An Angel, 2-year-old filly (So You Think (NZ) x All That Sass {Hinchinbrook})
The Robbie Griffiths-trained Almost An Angel (So You Think {NZ}) looks a good chance at Morphettville, dropping back to Listed grade after running in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes at her last start.
Almost An Angel was an impressive winner on debut at Caulfield last November and has run three honest enough races in stakes company in her last three starts, she looks a good chance of at least picking up some black-type in the hands of Luke Currie.
Almost An Angel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Almost An Angel is the first foal out of All That Sass (Hinchinbrook). She was a winner at 1400 metres and metropolitan placed in Sydney.
All That Sass is a half sister to the dual winner and Listed placed Morioka (Maurice {Jpn}), and is out of the Dubleo (USA) mare Koonoomoo, she was talented winning five times, including in the G3 Herald Sun Stakes in Melbourne.
In recent years All That Sass has produced a Farnan yearling filly, a Shinzo weanling filly, and was served by Switzerland last spring.
Almost An Angel was purchased for $30,000 by Griffiths Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) from the Alma Vale Thoroughbreds draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Celtics (I Am Invincible) - Was a solid winner in a small field at Bendigo. It was a good effort and he should only keep improving.
Cabriole (Lonhro) - Was scratched from his race at Bendigo, he will keep for another day.
Covert Action (Home Affairs) - Was scratched from his race at Cranbourne.
