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.
At Hawkesbury on Thursday, a exciting 2-year-old colt by Portland Sky makes his debut and a consistent Ardrossan filly chases deserved maiden success.
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 12.55pm AEST, Arg Building Services 2YO Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1100m
Slander, 2-year-old colt (Portland Sky x Gossip Queen {Not A Single Doubt})
The Nathan Doyle-trained Slander (Portland Sky) makes his debut at Hawkesbury on Thursday. He has looked sharp at the trials, winning both of them at Gosford and at Wyong late last month.
Slander is the third live-foal out of the unraced Not A Single Doubt mare Gossip Queen. She is very well-bred being a half-sister to the Group 3 winner and sire I’m All The Talk and to the 11-time winner, and dual Listed winner Straturbo (Stratum).
Slander as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This is also the extended family of the very good gelding Mentality (Flying Spur) who was successful at Group 1 level three times.
Gossip Queen, in recent times, has left yearling and weanling fillies by Jacquinot, and was served by Sweet Ride last spring.
Slander was purchased for $180,000 by Doyle Racing and Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Widden Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Hawkesbury, Race 2, 1.35pm AEST, Gremmo Homes/IMS Global Super Maiden Handicap, $60,000, 1100m
Our Huntress (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Ardrossan x O’Misty (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The Michael Freedman-trained Our Huntress (NZ) (Ardrossan) chases maiden success at start number five at Hawkesbury on Thursday. The consistent filly has placed in all of her four career starts so far, and since having a break has trialled twice to get ready for her resuming run.
Our Huntress is out of the unraced O’Reilly (NZ) mare O’Misty (NZ), a half sister to the Group 2 winner Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel), the Group 2 placed Safura (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), and the Malaysian Listed placegetter Ready To Drink (NZ) - Shimi Go (Mal.) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Our Huntress (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She has already left Rezeki (NZ) (Ardrossa) who has been a winner Hong Kong, and before being exported from New Zealand, he ran third in the Listed El Roca Trophy.
O’Misty, since producing Our Huntress, has produced a 2-year-old colt named The Mystic (Ardrossan), yearling and weanling fillies by Ardrossan, and she was served by the same stallion last spring.
Our Huntress was originally purchased for NZ$390,000 from the Elsdon park draft by the Ladbrokes Racing Club and Newgate at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale . She was then re-sold for $100,000 to Andrew Willaims Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Looking Back:
Exacting Standard (I Am Invincible) - Ran a very good second at Bendigo on debut, he is one to watch.
Nations League (Snitzel) - Was scratched from his race on the Kensington, he will keep for another day.
Peace Bird (Hellbent) - Was also scratched from her race on the Kensington.
