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 consistent 3-year-olds by Farnan and Anders chase maiden success at Sale on Sunday.
Sale, Race 1, 12.10pm AEST,ladbrokes Big Bets Copy Now 3YO Maiden Plate, $55,000, 1008m
Alphabet, 3-year-old filly (Farnan x Carribean Sunset (Ire) {Danehill Dancer {Ire}})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Alphabet (Farnan) will make her fifth start over 1008 metres at Sale on Sunday. She has run some solid races in her career so far, and goes into this race in a fresh state after a short break and a couple of jump-outs.
Sun Setting is very well-bred, she is a daughter of Caribbean Sunset (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who was a three-time Group 3 winner in Ireland and once at Listed level in the United States.
Alphabet as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has gone onto become a very good broodmare leaving six winners, the best of them have been Holbien (Pierro) who has won seven times including in the Listed Lord Stakes, she has also left the stakes-placed duo of Amenable (Lonhro) and Lovani (Lonhro).
Carribean Sunset since producing Alphabet, has left a yearling filly by Captivant, before she sadly died last year.
Alphabet was purchased for $180,000 by Anthony Freedman Racing from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Sale, Race 3, 1.30pm AEST, Sale Turf Club Sky Box - Book Now Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1208m
Ulfberht, 3-year-old gelding (Anders x En Aval {Toorak Toff})
The Robbie Griffiths-trained Ulfberht (Anders) chases maiden success at start number three at Sale on Sunday over 1208 metres. The half-brother to the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic winner Unit Five (Supido) has run two solid seconds in both of his career starts at Sale, so he knows the venue well, and will be looking to go one better.
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).
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 missed to Schwarz last spring.
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.
Lookin Back:
Moscatel (Snitzel) - Was a touch disappointing running sixth in the Listed Woodlands Stakes, while La Gitana (Home Affairs) ran a solid enough fifth in the same race.
Cold Gin (Ole Kirk) - Disappointed running seventh at Kembla Grange.
