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 exciting 2-year-olds by Tiger Of Malay, Harry Angel (Ire) and Wootton Bassett (GB) are chasing a late-season victory across three states on Saturday.
Doomben, Race 1, 11.53am, AEST, Souths Sports Club QTIS 2YO Handicap, $85,000, 1350m
Apex Predator, 2-year-old filly (Tiger Of Malay x Morganza (GB) {Singspiel {Ire}})
The Matthew Hoysted-trained 2-year-old filly Apex Predator (Tiger Of Malay) looks to remain unbeaten at Doomben on Saturday, as she looks to take her record to two-from-two after scoring on debut in impressive style on the same track on June 17 over 1200 metres.
Apex Predator is one of six individual winners for his first-season sire Tiger Of Malay, who stands at Newgate Farm.
Apex Predator as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Apex Predator is the eighth and last foal and sixth winner out of Morganza (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), who was a winner over 2000 metres in France. Her best runner has been the dual winner and Listed-placed Brave Danza (Brave Smash {Jpn}).
Morganza has a strong international pedigree, being a half-sister to the Irish Group 2 winner Monturani (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), and the Listed winners Mill Springs (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) and Monnavanna (Ire) (Machiavellian {USA}).
Apex Predator was purchased for $35,000 by Proven Thoroughbreds and Matt Hoysted Racing from the Glenlogan Park draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Caulfield, Race 1, 12.05pm, AEST, Sportsbet Race Previews 2YO Handicap, $150,000, 1100m
Angels Fury, 2-year-old filly (Harry Angel (Ire) x Ashra Jahre) {Headwater})
The Ciaron Maher-trained 2-year-old filly Angels Fury (Harry Angel {Ire}) chases her second win at Caulfield on Saturday on the back of a very impressive win at Bendigo on June 13.
Angels Fury as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Angels Fury is out of the three-time winner Ashra Jahre (Headwater), who is a full-sister to the four-time winner and dual Listed-placed Tristate (Headwater) and a half-sister to the six-time winner and Group 3 and Listed-placed Blazing Miss (Sizzling). She is also a half-sister to the dam of the ill-fated stallion and G2 Todman Stakes, G3 Breeders’ Plate and G3 Red Anchor Stakes winner Sejardan.
Ashra Jahre, in recent times, has left a Spirit Of Boom yearling colt and was served by Harry Angel (Ire) last October.
Angels Fury was purchased for $270,000 by Astute Bloodstock from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Randwick, Race 1, 11.10am, AEST, Elite Sand and Soil 2YO Handicap, $160,000, 1400m
Defensemen, 2-year-old colt (Wootton Bassett (GB) x Upfront (USA) {War Front {USA})
The promising 2-year-old colt Defensemen (Wootton Bassett (GB) lines up on Saturday at Randwick for trainer Chris Waller and owners Coolmore Stud and partners.
The well-bred colt ran third on debut in the Kirkham Plate behind Thrill Hunter (Ole Kirk), and then backed up that effort with a solid enough fifth in the Golden Gift. This preparation he resumed with a solid third behind By Napolean Hill (Written By) at Canterbury on June 17.
Defensemen as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Defensemen is by the late Wootton Bassett (GB) and is out of Upfront (War Front {USA}), who has left three winners, including four-time winner and Group 2-placed Direct (Siyouni {Fr}).
His grandam Up (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was a Group 2 and Group 3 winner, and Group 1-placed in France. While the Dual Group 1 winner and sire Dutch Art (GB) also features within the page.
Upfront has also left a yearling filly by the in-form international stallion Starspangledbanner, and a weanling colt by Wootton Bassett, and missed to Storm Boy most recently.
Defencemen was purchased by Tom Magnier for $1.4 million from the Yarraman Park draft at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Josain (Zousain) - Ran an honest fourth at Scone on debut. It was a solid effort and she should improve off that.
Avista (Maurice {Jpn}) - Won very nicely at Scone in the hands of Aaron Bullock.
