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 well-bred 2-year-old fillies by Wootton Bassett (GB), Exceed And Excel and Home Affairs all chase success across Australasia on Saturday.
Doomben, Race 3, 12.53pm AEST, Listed Ticketmaster Bill Carter Stakes, $160,000, 1350m
Katoto, 2-year-old filly (Wootton Bassett (GB) x Rose Of Savannah {Fastnet Rock})
The Chris Waller-trained Katoto (Wootton Bassett{GB}) chases Listed success at Doomben on the back of an impressive maiden win at Kembla Grange.
Katoto is the third foal out of the dual Fastnet Rock winning mare Rose Of Savannah, making her a half-sister to dual Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed filly Savvy Hallie (Hellbent).
Katoto as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Her grandam Savannah River (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and Champion Stallion Savabeel, while great-grandam Savannah Success (Success Express {USA}) was a dual Group 1 winner.
Rose Of Savannah has recently produced a yearling colt by Home Affairs, who sold for NZ$200,000 at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale to Pike Racing, along with a weanling filly by Reliable Man (GB), and she was served by I Am Invincible last spring.
Katoto was purchased for $450,000 by Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet Sandown Hillside, Race 1, 11.55am AEST, Sportsbet Jockey Watch 2YO Fillies Handicap, $150,000, 1000m
Semantics, 2-year-old filly (Exceed And Excel x Philosophy {Street Cry {Ire}})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained and Godolphin bred and owned Semantics (Exceed And Excel) makes her debut at Sandown on Saturday in the hands of Craig Williams.
The promising filly comes into her debut on the back of some strong trial form, including wins at Randwick and on the Caulfield Heath.
Exceed and Excel | Image courtesy of Darley
Semantics is the fourth foal out of Philosophy (Street Cry {Ire}) who was a six-time winner on the track. Philosophy is out of the Group 2 winning mare Renaissance (Lonhro), who is a full-sister to the Group 2 winner Sessions (Lonhro) and the Listed winner Haunted (Lonhro).
Philosophy, in recent years has left a yearling colt by Bivouac, and was served by Bivouac last spring also.
Ellerslie, Race 1, 10am AEST (12pm local), MyRacehorse 2YO Stakes, NZ$40,000, 1100m
Fatal Affair, 2-year-old filly (Home Affairs x Clear For Take Off (GB) {Soldier Hollow {GB}})
The Stephen Marsh-trained Home Affairs 2-year-old filly Fatal Affair looks very hard to beat on debut at Ellerslie in the hands of jockey Matt Cartwright. She has looked very talented at the trials winning both of them impressively at Ellerslie and Avondale.
Fatal Affair is out of Clear For Take Off (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who was a three-time winner and Group 3-placed in Germany. She is very well-bred being a half-sister to Calyxa (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was a Champion older mare in Italy and a multiple stakes winner on the track.
Home Affairs | Standing at Coolmore Stud
Clear For Take Off, since producing Fatal Affair, has left a Zoustar yearling colt, a Cylinder weanling filly and was served by Schwarz last spring.
Fatal Affair was originally purchased for $70,000 by Riversley Park from the Two Bays Farm draft at the 2024 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale. She was then re-offered by Riversley Park at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale where Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock purchased the filly for NZ$180,000.
Looking Back:
Marffiano (Home Affairs) - Ran a brave fifth in the $1 Million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Sylph (I Am Invincible) - Was a very much deserved maiden winner at the Gold Coast.
