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.
On Sunday, offspring of Yarraman Park Stud's father and son duo will attempt to shed their maiden status. A daughter of I Am Invincible starts for the Archibalds at Wyong, while a son of Hellbent wears visors for the first time at Swan Hill.
Wyong, Race 4, 1.31pm AEST, Australian Metal Recycling Maiden Handicap, $42,000, 1100m
Thyme To Go, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Joy At Last {More Than Ready {USA}})
Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained filly Thyme To Go (I Am Invincible) will be looking to break through at start number four on Sunday at Wyong.
Placed on debut last preparation at Randwick, she resumed with a fourth on a Saturday this preparation and takes a small step back in grade in the hopes of knocking off the maiden tag.
Thyme To Go is the third foal out of Joy At Last (More Than Ready {USA}), a half-sister to G2 Autumn Classic winner Castlereagh Kid (Snitzel) and a further three stakes performers. The Archibalds bought Thyme To Go for $260,000 from Yarraman Park Stud at last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Thyme To Go as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Joy At Last is a granddaughter of G1 Queensland Oaks victress and grand producer Joie Denise (Danehill {USA}), whose descendants include the champion More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}), G1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Fenway (High Chaparral {Ire}), dual Group 2 winner Don’t Doubt Mama (Not A Single Doubt), and this autumn’s G3 Shaftesbury Avenue Stakes winner Scheelite (Real Steel {Jpn}).
Joy At Last has a full brother to Thyme To Go on the ground, and subsequently visited Capitalist.
bet365 Swan Hill, Race 2, 12:05pm AEST, The Federal Hotel Swan Hill Maiden Plate, $40,000, 1600m
Hopeless Romantic, 3-year-old gelding (Hellbent x Bound For Love {Northern Meteor})
Neil Dyer will send out Hopeless Romantic (Hellbent) at Swan Hill in the hopes of scoring at start number three. The gelding has run into a better horse at each of his previous outings, having most recently run second at Echuca over a shorter trip. The step up to the mile and a set of visors will hopefully get him off on the right foot on Sunday.
Hellbent | Standing at Yarraman Park
Bred by Leneva Park, Hopeless Romantic was a $8500 purchase for Jim Dyer Thoroughbreds in the final Inglis Digital sale of 2025.
His dam Bound For Love (Northern Meteor) was a five-time metropolitan winner on the track and is a half-sister to Listed Widden Stakes victress Horizons (Choisir), from the family of G3 Liverpool City Cup winner Continuum (Hurricane Sky). Her best runner to date is six-time winner The Wild Goal (Shalaa {Ire}).
Since producing Hopeless Romantic, Bound For Love has most recently foaled a yearling filly by Fierce Impact (Jpn). She visited Alpine Edge in the spring.
Looking Back:
Lord Horatio (Stay Inside) - fifth behind Why So Hard (All Too Hard) at Randwick, but well in the mix when only beaten three quarters of a length.
Vega Vixen (Lucky Vega {Ire}) - a little disappointing when third at Flemington to Aethera (Shamus Award).
Fatal Affair (Home Affairs) - did not get in the mix at all when finishing fifth by over four lengths at Ellerslie.
