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.
Well-bred types by I Am Invincible, Hellbent and Ardrossan are chasing maiden success across Australia on Wednesday.
Kensington, Race 1, 12.50pm AEST, Robrick Lodge 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1250m
Rocket Girl, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Missile Mantra {Smart Missile})
The Chris Waller-trained Rocket Girl (I Am Invincible) chases maiden success at her second start on the Kensington on Wednesday. She was a fast-finishing third in a good form race on debut at Hawkesbury behind Extremely Tempted (Extreme Choice) back in April, and she has trialled nicely at Rosehill in preparation for her resuming run.
Her dam Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) was a four-time winner up to 1500 metres and was successful in the G3 Summoned Stakes and the Listed Redoute's Choice Stakes, as well as placing in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Rocket Girl as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Missile Mantra is a full-sister to the four-time winner and Group-2 placed Maximak (Smart Missile) and a half-sister to the Group 2-winner Makarena (Snitzel), who sold for $1,500,000 to Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock at last year’s Inglis Chairman's Sale.
This is also the family of the dual New Zealand Group 1-winner We Can Say It Now (Starcraft {NZ}).
Missile Mantra, in recent times, has unfortunately failed to produce a live-foal and slipped to I Am Invincible last season.
Rocket Girl was purchased for $1,200,000 by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Yarraman Park Stud at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet Sandown Lakeside, Race 1, 12.25pm AEST, Sportsbet Jockey Watch 2YO Fillies Handicap, $50,000, 1300m
Helizangel, 2-year-old filly (Hellbent x Skymelt {Hard Spun {USA}})
The Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained 2-year-old filly Helizangel (Hellbent) chases maiden success at Sandown on Wednesday on the back of an eye-catching effort when running fourth as a roughie on the Caulfield Heath back on June 17 behind Vivid Storm (Wild Ruler).
Helizangel is the fifth and last live-foal out of the Hard Spun (USA) mare Skymelt who was placed on the track.
Helizangel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Skymelt is well-bred being a half-sister to the Listed winner and Group 1-placed Soft Sand (Dansili {GB}) and the dam of the Listed-winner A Very Fine Red (Deep Field).
Helizangel’s third dam Loving Claim (USA) (Hansel {USA}) was a smart filly, winning the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac as a 2-year-old, she is also a half-sister to the former stallion City On A Hill (USA).
Helizangel was purchased for $35,000 by Sparta Racing from the Mane Lodge draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Eagle Farm, Race 4, 2.18pm AEST, Sky Racing QTIS 3YO Maiden Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Our Huntress (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Ardrossan x O’Misty (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old filly Our Huntress (NZ) (Ardrossan) chases maiden success at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. The consistent filly has placed in all of her six career starts so far and deserves to taste maiden success.
Our Huntress is out of the unraced O’Reilly (NZ) mare O’Misty (NZ), a half sister to the Group 2 winner Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel), the Group 2-placed Safura (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), and the Malaysian Listed-placegetter Ready To Drink (NZ) - Shimi Go (Mal.) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Our Huntress (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She has already left Rezeki (NZ) (Ardrossa) who has been a winner in Hong Kong and he ran third in the Listed El Roca Trophy in New Zealand before he was exported.
O’Misty, since producing Our Huntress, has produced a 2-year-old colt named The Mystic (Ardrossan), yearling and weanling fillies by Ardrossan, and she was served by the same stallion last spring.
Our Huntress was originally purchased for NZ$390,000 from the Elsdon park draft by the Ladbrokes Racing Club and Newgate at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale . She was then re-sold for $100,000 to Andrew Willaims Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Looking Back:
Circus Lights (Trapeze Artist) - Was a solid winner on the Ballarat Synthetic, while her stablemate Lancetta (Justify {USA}) was a close-up third in the same race.
