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.
On Friday, three runners try to secure valuable wins at Cranbourne, including a stakes-performed daughter of Zoustar and a debutant Castelvecchio filly.
Cranbourne, Race 1, 5:150m AEDT, Ladbrokes Big Bets Copy Now Maiden Plate, $45,000, 1000m
Price Tag, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Humma Humma {Denman})
Price Tag (Zoustar) is both the most experienced and best credentialled runner in Cranbourne's opener on Friday, having, finished fourth or better in three stakes races in her first five starts. She was third on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial, then a strong fourth in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate, before a second placing to My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (fillies).
While she went unplaced in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium, Price Tag was beaten just two lengths in that race. She hasn't been seen on raceday since her following start in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, but makes her return after a jump-out win at the start of April under Daniel Stackhouse.
Price Tag as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Price Tag is the first foal of G3 Proud Miss Stakes winner Humma Humma (Denman), whose current 2-year-old The Next Episode (Snitzel) sold for $2.7 million to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He has been a metropolitan winner and was second in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes last start.
Since then, Humma Humma has produced an I Am Invincible colt who was sold for $600,000 to McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Gold Coast this year, and a Zoustar filly in 2025.
Price Tag was purchased for $600,000 by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock from Widden Stud's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Cranbourne, Race 2, 5:45pm AEDT, Bunyip Equipment Maiden Plate, $45,000, 1000m
Theatrical Queen, 3-year-old filly (Farnan x Theatric {Casino Prince})
Trained by Robbie Griffiths, Theatrical Queen (Farnan) has had two outings to date for two third placings in the spring, and she wasn't far off on either occasion. She bounced through two recent jump-outs with plenty in the tank for her third race start.
Dam Theatric (Casino Prince) is a two-time winner out of a half-sister to November Flight (Flying Spur), Group winner and the dam of young sire Pierata and Mischief Night (Shamardal {USA}), dam of last year's G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night (Extreme Choice). Theatric has had four runners for three winners so far.
Theatrical Queen as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing Theatrical Queen, Theatric has had yearling Jacquinot colt, who sold at this year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to Pure Bred Thoroughbred Breeding & Racing for $50,000, and she has a Native Trail (GB) colt at foot. She was covered by Zousain in 2025.
Theatrical Queen passed in as a weanling and is raced in a large all-women partnership including Kim McClenahan, who runs Mullaglass Stud with husband and breeder Dr Richard McClenahan.
Cranbourne, Race 3, 6:15pm AEDT, Hertz Maiden Plate, $45,000, 1300m
Bella Verona, 3-year-old filly (Castelvecchio x Simply Wonderful (NZ) {Snitzel})
Matt Laurie will unveil Bella Verona (Castelvecchio) in the third race on Friday night, off of the back of two sharp jump-out victories that set her up well for her debut. She beat the aforementioned Price Tag in her first jump-out in March and repeated the effort at the start of the month.
Bella Verona as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bella Verona is the second foal out of Simply Wonderful (NZ) (Snitzel), a daughter of four-time Group 1 victress and Champion New Zealand Stayer Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}). Shez Sinsational has produced two Group winners, Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and House Of Cartier (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), both of whom placed at Group 1 level, amongst five winners.
Since producing Bella Verona, Simply Wonderful has foaled a Dundeel (NZ) colt who was bought for $360,000 by O'Shea Charlton Racing and James Bester Bloodstock at the Gold Coast this year and a Hitotsu colt in the spring. She then revisited Dundeel.
Matt Laurie Racing bought Bella Verona for $90,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Arrowfield Stud's draft.
Looking Back:
Time To Dance (NZ) (Savabeel) - Second to the favourite.
Golden Princess (Maurice {Jpn}) - Fifth by a fair margin behind Time To Dance.
Braemar Hill (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}) - Scratched from a Heavy 8 track.
