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 well-bred runners from the Ciaron Maher stable by Trapeze Artist and Justify (USA) go head-to-head on the Ballarat Synthetic on Tuesday.
Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic, Race 1, 1.30pm AEST, Porter Plant Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1500m
Circus Lights, 3-year-old filly (Trapeze Artist x Laney (USA) {Shackleford {USA}})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Circus Lights (Trapeze Artist) has her second start on the Synthetic at Ballarat on Tuesday, on the back of a strong finishing fourth at Seymour on debut earlier in the month.
Circus Lights is out of the three-time American winner Laney (USA) (Shackleford {USA}) who was also Group-placed twice. This is the extended family of the Listed winners Midnight Ballet (Midnight Lute {USA}) and Buzz Song (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}).
Circus Lights as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Laney, in recent times has produced a 2-year-old filly named Danke Schoen (Microphone), a yearling filly named Karaoke Lane (Microphone), a weanling colt by Farnan, and was served by Starlust (GB) last November.
Circus Lights was originally purchased for $60,000 by Paul Willetts Bloodstock Consultancy from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. She was then re-offered at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale by Sullivan Bloodstock, where Starblue Consultancy and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock paid $70,000.
Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic, Race 1, 1.30pm AEST, Porter Plant Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1500m
Lancetta, 4-year-old mare (Justify {USA} x Tulip {Pierro})
The Ciaron Maher-trained 4-year-old mare Lancetta (Justify {USA}) chases maiden success at start number two on the Ballarat Synthetic on Tuesday. She has been off the scene for a year after placing fifth on debut at Cranbourne in June 2025, but she has prepared for this race with two recent jump-outs.
Lancetta is out of the smart mare Tulip (Pierro), she was a winner at Group 3-level twice and placed in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes.
Lancetta as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Tulip is also very well-bred being a full sister to the Listed Gosford Gold Cup winner Les Vampires (Pierro) and a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Sacred Eye (High Chaparral {Ire}).
This is also the extended family of the Group 1-winners and very successful sires Flying Spur and Encosta De Lago.
Tulip, in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly named Daeseya (Justify {USA}) and was served by Switzerland last September.
Lancetta was purchased for NZ$300,000 by Ciaron Maher Racing at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from the Curraghmore draft.
Looking Back
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Capital Storm (Written Tycoon) - Disappointed running last on debut at Sale.
Koko (Written Tycoon) - Ran an improvers race for sixth at Sale, attacking the line well from back in the field.
