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.
Three very well-bred types by Farnan, Stay Inside and Written Tycoon chase maiden success at Canterbury on Wednesday
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 12.50pm AEST, Kia Ora Bloodlines To Headlines Maiden Handicap, $100,000, 1100m
Farfetched, 3-year-old filly (Farnan x More Than Real (USA) {More Than Ready {USA}})
The well-bred Farfetched (Farnan) chases maiden success at start number five at Canterbury on Wednesday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
She has run three placings in her career so far on the Kensington and at Warwick Farm twice, and with her consistent form and handy barrier draw she looks a good each-way chance.
Farfetched has a beautiful pedigree, her dam More Than Real (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) was a Group 2 and Group 3 winner in America, and ended up being a very good broodmare leaving six winners including the Listed winner Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock).
Farfetched as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The family has gone from strength to strength, as Miss Debutante has left a legacy leaving the G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Camelot (Written Tycoon), the four-time Group 3 winner Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) and the G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar).
More Than Real, in recent times has produced a Farnan yearling filly, a Zoustar weanling colt, and was served by Captivant last spring.
Farfetched was purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $500,000 from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, Headwater @ Vinery Stud 2YO Handicap, $60,000, 1200m
Sanctum, 2-year-old colt (Stay Inside x Metis {I Am Invincible})
The Chris Waller-trained Sanctum (Stay Inside) looks very hard to beat at Canterbury on Wednesday with the in-form apprentice Siena Grima aboard and claiming 2kg.
Sanctum ran a strong second behind Omolong (Extreme Choice) on debut at Warwick Farm on June 24, and that form looks even stronger now with Omolong winning again impressively at Rosehill over the weekend.
Sanctum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sanctum is by the very exciting first-season sire Stay Inside and is out of the three-time winner Metis (I Am Invincible). Metis comes from the extended family of the dual Group 1-Oaks winner Our Tristalight (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and her Group 1-winning son and sire Danske (NZ), and the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Midnight Oil (NZ) (Keeper).
Metis, in recent years, has produced a Written Tycoon yearling filly, a Stay Inside weanling colt and was served again by Stay Inside last November.
Sanctum was originally purchased for $180,000 by Rhys Smith from the Morningside draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. He was then re-offered by Kulani Park at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock purchased the colt for $270,000.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, Headwater @ Vinery Stud 2YO Handicap, $60,000, 1200m
Horologist, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x In Her Time {Time Thief})
The Chris Waller-trained Horologist (Written Tycoon) will have his second start at Canterbury on Wednesday, on the back of running a very good fast-finishing second behind By Napolean Hill (Written By) in the middle of last month.
Horologist is the third foal from the super talented Time Thief filly In Her Time who won just over $3.7 million on the track including the G1 Lightning Stakes, G2 Breeders Classic, G2 Millie Fox Stakes and the Listed Sydney Stakes.
Horologist as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
After her outstanding racing career, In Her Time sold at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale fetching $2.2 million to the bid of Yulong Investments Australia. In Her Time over the last few seasons has produced a yearling filly by Yulong Stud’s young-sire Diatonic (Jpn), a weanling Pierata colt in August, and she was then served by First Settler.
Further back in the family features The Everest victor and sire in Yes Yes Yes and the stakes-winners Hot As Hell (County), Harlem River (Fastnet Rock), Flaming Hot (County), Craig’s Dragon (Catbird) and Lempicka (Rich Enuff).
Horologist sold for $1,800,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Tom Magnier being the successful purchaser from the draft of Yulong.
Looking Back:
Both Half Pipe (Extreme Warrior) and Valedor (Street Boss {USA}) were very impressive winners at Muswellbrook. Both were very warm favourites and both delivered in style albeit both being a bit green. Which should mean plenty of improvement to come and are both horses to follow.
