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.
The action on Sunday heads to Wangaratta, where a son of Exceed And Excel and an affordably priced Kiwi purchase will try to knock off their maidens over the sprinting trips.
Sportsbet-Wangaratta, Race 1, 11.55am AEST, Muraca Electrical Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1000m
Deadly Force, 4-year-old gelding (Exceed And Excel x Circe {Medaglia D’Oro {USA}})
Deadly Force (Exceed And Excel) steps out on Sunday for Anthony and Sam Freedman for the first time in Wangaratta's opening event. The 4-year-old has been well prepared for the occasion with two jump-outs, both of which he has won.
Bred by GSA Bloodstock, Deadly Force was withdrawn from both the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Exceed And Excel | Image courtesy of Darley
Deadly Force's dam Circe (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) is a daughter of the blue hen Chiara (Last Tycoon {Ire}), making her a half-sister to the Lion Hunter trio of stakes winners, Chinchilla Rose, Ferocity, and Leone Chiara. The latter has been a prolific producer herself, with her three stakes winners highlighted by Star Witness. This is also the family of the spring's G2 Callander-Presnell Stakes winner Ohope (I Am Invincible).
Circe's best runner to date has been the Group 3 performer Award Winner (Exceed And Excel). In recent times, the mare has left a 3-year-old filly named Maingirlfaith (Pariah) and a weanling by Super Seth, before she was served again by Super Seth last spring.
Sportsbet-Wangaratta, Race 2, 12.35pm AEST, WTC Seniors Raceday - 4th July Maiden Plate, $55,000, 1300m
Jimmy Beans (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Redwood (GB) x La Parfaite {Dehere {USA}})
In the second race on the card, Jimmy Beans (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) will bid to break his maiden at start number three. Also trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, he ran two seconds earlier in the year - he was beaten a nose in the latter - before winning his most recent jump-out before resumption.
Jimmy Beans (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Jimmy Beans was purchased for NZ$45,000 by Anthony Freedman Racing from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Jimmy Beans is out of La Parfaite (Dehere {USA}), a winning half-sister to G1 Goodwood Handicap winner and sire Perfectly Ready and Listed Macau Derby winner Duccio - Turquoise Power (Sing.) (More Than Ready {USA}). Her dam is a half-sister to Champion 2YO Filly Belle Du Jour (Dehere {USA}), who went on to be the Champion Older Female Sprinter in Ireland later in her career.
La Parfaite’s last foal is a 2-year-old colt by Tarzino (NZ), before she died in 2026.
Looking Back:
Friendly Fire (Farnan) - Ran home well to finish second to a smart one at Rosehill.
Marffiano (Home Affairs) - Very gallant on a very Heavy track at Eagle Farm when running second in the Listed Oxlade Stakes.
Mbube (Rubick) - a scintillating winner by a length and a half at Sandown.
