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 promising 3-year-olds by So You Think (NZ) and Written Tycoon are chasing maiden success across Australia on Thursday.
Gosford, Race 4, 2.35pm AEST, Elite Sand & Soil Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1200m
Opine, 3-year-old gelding (So You Think (NZ) x Asheerah {Redoute’s Choice})
The Joseph Pride-trained Opine (So You Think {NZ}) makes his debut at Gosford on Thursday over 1200 metres. The Proven Thoroughbreds-owned gelding has shown a bit of talent at the trials and looks a good chance in the hands of Andrew Adkins.
Opine is the eighth foal out of Asheerah (Redoute’s Choice), she was a winner over 1200 metres. She has been a solid producer at stud, leaving five winners, with the best of them being the 13-time winner and the Horse of the Year in Mauritius in Alishibaa (Street Cry {Ire}) who was also Listed placed in South Africa.
Opine as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Opine’s grandam is the classy Rewaaya (NZ) (Singspiel {Ire}) who was the winner of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and the G3 Let’s Elope Stakes.
Asheerah, since producing Opine, has left a 2-year-old filly named Broadway Bound (Capitalist), a yearling colt by Stay Inside, a weanling filly by Castelvecchio, and was served by Peltzer last spring.
Opine was purchased for $40,000 by Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing from the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Bet365 Seymour, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Bet365 Bet Boost 3YO Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1000m
Koko, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Tawteen {Stratum})
The Mark Walker-trained Koko (Written Tycoon) is set to chase maiden success at her fifth start at Seymour on Thursday, she has ran two good placings at Mornington in her career so far, she looks well-placed to run well after a break and a couple of Cranbourne jump-outs.
Koko is by Written Tycoon and is the sixth foal out of Tawteen (Stratum), she was a seven-time winner including at Listed level, and her half brother Well Sprung (Star Witness) was also successful at Listed level amongst his four wins.
Koko as a yearling | Image courtesy Inglis
Koko has some outstanding international pedigree influences deeper in her pedigree, her grandam Sprung (USA) was a Group 3 winner in America, and is by the very good sire Grand Slam (USA).
Since producing Koko, Tawteen has left a 2-year-old named Teen Torque (Grunt {NZ}), a weanling filly by Pierata and was served by More Than Looks (USA) last spring.
David Ellis (CNZM) was the purchaser of Koko for $120,000 from the draft of Yulong at the 20234 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Zourrific (Zoustar) - Ran a solid third on debut on the Kensington.
Ready Forcocktails (Snitzel) - Ran an honest second and was beaten by a smart one on the Kensington.
Mission Of Joy (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) - Was scratched from her race at Sale, she will keep for another day.
