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 more maidens round out the week on Sunday, including a 3-year-old half-brother to a Magic Millions race winner and a Spirit Of Boom colt getting an important gear change.
Sale, Race 2, 1:15pm AEDT, Laurels Function Centre – Book Now Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1113m
Ulfberht, 3-year-old gelding (Anders x En Aval {Toorak Toff})
Robbie Griffiths has been patient with Ulfberht (Anders), who hasn't shown the same precocity as his half-brother and R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic winner Unit Five (Supido), but he has the gelding ready to fire at Sale on Sunday. Four jump-outs have gotten Ulfberht ready to rock, especially after winning his most recent jump-out at Cranbourne.
Ulfberht as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Ulfberht is the first foal out of En Aval (Toorak Toff), who descends from the family of Group 2 winner and Group 1-performed Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt), dam of the talented My Gladiola (I Am Invincible). En Aval's best foal to date has been Unit Five, who scored at the Magic Millions meet earlier this year.
Since producing Ulfberht and Unit Five, En Aval delivered a full brother to Ulfberht who was sold to Cumani Racing for $200,000 at this year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. She has a filly at foot by Exceedance and was covered by Schwarz in 2025.
Griffiths De Kock Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) paid $300,000 for Ulfberht at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Widden Stud.
Wagga, Race 1, 12:40pm AEDT, Sandbar At Kooringal 2YO Handicap, $30,000, 1000m
Avido (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Super Seth x Greedy (NZ) {Savabeel})
A son of Super Seth, the Danielle Seib-trained Avido (NZ) is ready to break his maiden at start number one after one public trial, where he was second by half a length at Wangaratta. The winner that day, Andres Girl (Graff), has scratched from this race, leaving Avido with only six rivals to see off if he wants to win on debut.
Avido as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Avido is the third foal and first to race out of Greedy (NZ) (Savabeel), a daughter of Group 3-winning, Group 1-performed Splashing Out (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}). Greedy's dam Indulge (NZ) (Pins) is a full sister to the Group winners Packing Pins (NZ) and Shopaholic (NZ), herself also a stakes producer, and a half-sister to G2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes winner Splurge (NZ) (Savabeel).
This family also features Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes winner Eurocanto (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Since producing Avido, Greedy delivered a dead foal in 2024 and visited Ardrossan in 2025.
Avido was a $170,000 purchase for Seib Racing and Champion Thoroughbreds from Waikato Stud's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.
Sunshine Coast, Race 2, 1:06pm AEDT, K Smith & Son Jewellers QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate, $30,000, 1300m
Coastal Boom, 2-year-old colt (Spirit Of Boom x Repeats {I Am Invincible})
Paul Shailer-trained Coastal Boom (Spirit Of Boom) is back for his second preparation and is ready to strike first up after winning a trial at the beginning of April. He goes into Sunday's race with blinkers off for the first time and steps out in distance, having debuted over 1000 metres back in the spring.
Coastal Boom is the second foal out of Repeats (I Am Invincible), an unraced granddaughter of Listed Canonbury Stakes winner Danehill Smile (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Danehill Smile has produced nine winners from 11 runners, including the Group performers Street Dancer (Pride Of Dubai) and Feels Like Home (More Than Ready {USA}).
Coastal Boom as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing Coastal Boom, Repeats delivered a Better Than Ready filly that sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year for Baystone and Malua Bloodstock for $120,000. She hasn't been served since.
Shailer Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased Coastal Boom from Robyn Wise for $80,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2025.
Looking Back:
The Thorncatcher (Farnan) - Finished off well to run second.
Luna Vega (Lucky Vega {Ire}) - Just ran into a smart one, finished second.
Miss Janet (Home Affairs) - A new stakes winner for her sire with victory in the Listed Star Way Stakes.
