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 Wednesday, three well related young horses attempt to break their maiden, including a daughter of two Slipper winners and a colt looking to become his dam's sixth winner.
Canterbury, Race 3, 2pm AEDT, Tab Plate, $100,000, 1250m
Loera, 3-year-old filly (Capitalist x Overreach {Exceed And Excel})
A very well-bred filly will take her second start on Wednesday for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. Loera (Capitalist) has the rare distinction of being the daughter of two G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winners and she improved home to run second on debut over 1100 metres at Rosehill earlier in April. She was the winner of two trials before that.
Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm
Loera is the fifth foal of Slipper victress Overreach (Exceed And Excel), who has already produced the dual Group winner Lofty Strike, who will stand his third season at Swettenham Stud this year. All four of her olders runners have been winners. Corumbene Stud, who bred Overreach and Loera, stand her Group 2-winning full brother Standout.
Since producing Loera, Overreach has foaled the 2-year-old filly Piaffe (Snitzel), and a Zoustar filly in 2025. She was covered by Extreme Choice in the spring.
Loera was retained to race by her breeder, Corumbene Stud.
Geelong, Race 2, 1:35pm AEDT, Winning Edge Presentations 2YO Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1225m
Enea (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Satono Aladdin (Jpn) x Tree of Life (NZ) {Burgundy {NZ}})
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will be unleashing what looks to be a very smart son of Satono Aladdin (Jpn) in Enea, who has won all three of his public jump-outs ahead of his debut. The gelding will benefit from the middle draw - barrier five - in a field of 11 and the skills of Mark Zahra to guide him through his first start.
Enea (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Enea is the first foal out of Burgundy (NZ) mare Tree Of Life (NZ), a full sister to NZ Bloodstock Filly Of The Year Dijon Bleu (NZ) who won three Group races and a half to the stakes performers Passione (NZ) (Proisir) and Prosecco (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Since foaling Enea, Tree Of Life lost her 2024 foal by Embellish (NZ) before producing a filly by Proisir (GB) in 2025. She was served by Paddington (GB) the same season.
Enea was a NZ$60,000 purchase for his trainers from Landsdowne Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Doomben, Race 1, 12:33pm AEDT, Gallopers Sports Club QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap, $38,000, 1110m
Berzelius, 2-year-old colt (Extreme Choice x Secret Liaison {Artie Schiller {USA}})
Another well-bred individual will step out at Doomben for the first time when Berzelius (Extreme Choice) makes his debut for Michael Freedman. The colt has had nice three trials to date behind the likes of Lady Moscato (Home Affairs) and Lumbini (Russian Revolution), and was beaten less than two lengths when running third in his most recent outing.
Berzelius as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bred by SF Bloodstock, Berzelius is the eighth foal out of dual Listed winner Secret Liaison (Artie Schiller {USA}) who was also placed up to Group 3 level. From the family of G2 Pago Pago Stakes winner Deferential (Royal Academy {USA}) and this season's G2 Waikato Guineas winner Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Secret Liaison has produced five winners from her six to the track to date, including Group 3-placed Styling City (Starspangledbanner).
Since producing Berzelius, Secret Liaison foaled a colt by In The Congo in 2025 and was given that season off.
Michael Freedman Racing, Michael Wallace, and Kia Ora Stud purchased Berzelius for $340,000 from Newgate Farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Dark Justice (Justify {USA}) - Disappointed when running sixth by a wide margin.
Sakura Jenni (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) - Finished off strongly for second.
