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.
It's all about the 2-year-olds, as an exciting Toronado (Ire) colt looks hard to beat at Rosehill, and colts by Pinatubo (Ire) and I Am Invincible go head-to-head at Caulfield.
Rosehill, Race 1, 11am AEST, Bookmakers Recognition Day 2YO Handicap, $160,000, 1300m
Tron Bolt, 2-year-old colt (Toronado (Ire) x Baccarat Baby {Casino Prince})
The Chris Waller-trained Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) looks a great chance of adding another win to his record at Rosehill on Saturday as he potentially makes another step towards the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm.
He was an impressive winner last start on the Kensington when defeating Rolling Home (Bivouac) and looks very well-placed here to go back-to-back.
Tron Bolt is the first foal out of Baccarat Baby (Casino Prince), she was a very smart mare winning eight times including in the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas, and the Listed Princess Stakes.
Tron Bolt as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Baccarat Baby was purchased by Dermot Farrington on behalf of Gilgai at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale Spendthrift Dispersal for $900,000.
Baccarat Baby is very well-bred being a three-quarter-sister to the Group 2 and Listed winner Philia (All Too Hard) who sold at this years Inglis Chairman’s Sale to K Yoshida for $1.4 million and a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Duais (Shamus Award).
This is also the extended family of the very successful stallions Flying Spur and Encosta De Lago.
Baccarat Baby, in recent times, has left a Toronado (Ire) yearling colt and has unfortunately slipped to Toronado and missed to Castelvecchio the last two seasons.
Tron Bolt was originally purchased by Hunter Lodge and Liam Ruddy for $250,000 from the Gilgai Farm draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He was then re-offered by Hunter's Lodge at the 2025 Inglis Ready2Race Sale where Hermitage Thoroughbreds paid $900,000.
Caulfield, Race 1, 11.55am AEST, Sportsbet Feed 2YO Handicap, $150,000, 1200m
Exacting Standard, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Suspicieuse (Fr) {Elusive City {USA}})
The Shane Nichols and Hayden Black-trained Exacting Standard (I Am Invincible) makes his second start at Caulfield on Saturday. He ran a strong second behind Home Invasion (Home Affairs) on debut at Ballarat, and with natural improvement he looks a good chance.
Exacting Standard as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Exacting Standard is out of the French-bred mare Suspicieuse (Elusive City), she was a winner over 2000 metres and was placed at Listed level. She has already left three winners including the dual Group winner and sire Dubious.
In recent years, Suspicieuse has left a yearling colt by Alabama Express, a weanling colt by Pierata, and was served by Growing Empire last spring.
Exacting Standard was purchased by Shane Nichols Racing and Horse Ventures for $290,000 from the Yulong draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Caulfield, Race 1, 11.55am AEST, Sportsbet Feed 2YO Handicap, $150,000, 1200m
Carnevale, 2-year-old colt (Pinatubo (Ire) x Fiesta {I Am Invincible})
The well-bred Carnevale (Pinatubo {Ire}) lines up at Caulfield on Saturday over 1200 metres, on debut back in November he ran fourth in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate behind Toronado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) at Flemington for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. He has since had a break and three jump-outs to prepare for his resuming run.
Carnevale as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Carnevale is from the first Australian crop of Pinatubo (Ire), the three-time Group 1 winner, and is the first foal out of Fiesta (I Am Invincible), she was a five-time winner of just under $1.6 million in prizemoney. Her most significant wins came in the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes, G3 Begonia Belle Stakes, G3 Widden Stakes, and the G3 Northwood Plume Stakes.
Rosemont Stud purchased her for $1.35 million at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, and she got off to an excellent start for them, when Carnevale was purchased by Lindsay Park Racing for $700,000 from the Rosemont Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Fiesta, since producing Carnevale, has left a yearling colt by Dundeel (NZ), a weanling Wootton Bassett (GB) filly and was served by Dundeel last spring.
Looking Back:
Baciami (Castelvecchio) - Ran a solid second at Sunshine Coast.
Glory Of Love (Snitzel) - Ran an honest enough fifth at Bendigo.
