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 promising 2-year-olds by Home Affairs chase maiden success on Thursday, and a Nathan Doyle-trained consistent Cosmic Force gelding is due a winning turn.
Wyong, Race 3, 1.25pm AEDT, Light & Wonder Super Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1300m
Funshow, 3-year-old gelding (Cosmic Force x Miss Marilyn {Redentel})
The Nathan Doyle-trained Funshow (Cosmic Force) chases maiden success at start number four over 1300 metres at Wyong on Thursday. The consistent gelding ran second in all three starts last preparation and after a break and a fitness trial earlier this month he looks a great chance.
Funshow is out of Miss Marilyn (Redente) who was a winner over 1100 metres, she is a half-sister to the Group 1 winning sprinter Mistegic (Strategic) and the Listed winner Rightson (Strategic).
Funshow as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Miss Marilyn, has unfortunately not produced a live-foal since leaving Funshow, and she missed to Alpine Edge last season.
Funshow was originally purchased for $55,000 by Riverstone Lodge and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. He was then re-offered by Riverstone Lodge at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where Kurrinda Bloodstock and Nathan Doyle Racing purchased him for $150,000.
Wyong, Race 5, 2.40pm AEDT, Brown Forman Maiden Handicap, $42,000, 1000m
Barracks, 2-year-old colt (Home Affairs x Wild Rain {Manhattan Rain})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Barracks (Home Affairs) makes his third start at Wyong on Thursday over 1000 metres. The son of Home Affairs has run two solid seconds at Newcastle and Hawkesbury to start his career and he looks a solid chance to go better here.
Barracks is the sixth foal out of the smart sprinting mare Wild Rain (Manhattan Rain) who won the G2 Ian McEwen Stakes, the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes and two other Listed sprints. She has left four winners on the track including the five-time winner and Listed placed Spring Lee (Zoustar).
Barracks as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Further back this is the family of the Champion galloper and nine-time Group 1 winner Northerly (Serheed {USA}), and the $12.4 million earner and dual G1 Winterbottom Stakes winner Overpass (Vancouver).
Wild Rain, in recent years, has left a yearling colt by Zoustar, and was served by Home Affairs last spring.
Barracks was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $420,000 from the Cressfield draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Global Turf 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1200m
Velocite Belle, 2-year-old filly (Home Affairs x Vitesse {Snitzel})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Velocite Belle (Home Affairs) makes her second start at Ballarat on Thursday. The well-bred daughter of Home Affairs ran a solid enough fourth on debut at Geelong where she was only beaten two lengths, with improvement off that, she looks a good each-way chance in the hands of Daniel Stackhouse.
Velocite Belle is the first foal from the six-time winner Vitesse (Snitzel). She comes from a very strong international family that includes the Champion European filly Sarafina (Fr) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) who was a three-time Group 1 winner in France.
Velocite Belle as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Vitesse has left a yearling colt by Dundeel (NZ), a weanling colt by Home Affairs, and was served again by Home Affairs again last spring.
Velocite Belle was purchased for $300,000 by Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Torryburn Draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Free Flying (Snitzel) - Disappointed running seventh on the Caulfied Heath.
Scoot (Street Boss {USA}) - Was scratched from her race at Kembla Grange, she will keep for another day.
Cannae (Maurice {Jpn}) - Was scratched from his race on the Caulfield Heath, he will keep for another day.
