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 promising types by I Am Invincible, Snitzel and So You Think (NZ) from the powerful Chris Waller stable chase maiden success at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Warwick Farm, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, Robrick Lodge 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1100m
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 at Warwick Farm 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 twice nicely at Rosehill in preparation for her resuming run.
Rocket Girl's dam Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) was a winner at Group 3 and Listed level, and was placed 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.
Warwick Farm, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, Robrick Lodge 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1100m
Leonessa, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Miss Leonidas {I Am Invincible})
The Chris Waller-trained Leonessa (Snitzel) makes her third start at Warwick Farm on Wednesday over 1100 metres.
She disappointed running last on debut at Warwick Farm behind Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and then run an honest fourth on the Kensington behind Reachin’ Out (Stay Inside). Both of these races were in March, and she has since had a break and a couple of trials to get ready for her resuming run.
Leonessa is the third foal out of the smart mare Miss Leonidas (I Am Invincible). She was a five-time winner and was successful in the G2 Caulfield Sprint Handicap and the Listed Bel Esprit Handicap. She was also classy enough to run second in the G1 Galaxy Handicap and the G1 AJ Moir Stakes.
Leonessa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This is also the extended family of the tough grey stayer Newport (Encosta De Lago), who was a nine-time winner and was successful in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap, G2 Brisbane Cup and the G3 Randwick City Stakes.
Unfortunately, Leonessa was Miss Leonidas last live-foal before she sadly died in November last year.
Leonessa was purchased by B2B Thoroughbreds for $725,000 from the Cressfield draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Warwick Farm, Race 3, 2pm AEST, Asahi Super Dry Maiden Handicap, $100,000, 1400m
Claudel, 3-year-old filly (So You Think (NZ) x Moosirra {Redoute’s Choice})
The Chriss Waller-trained Claudel (So You Think {NZ}) chases maiden success at start number four at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. The consistent So You Think (NZ) filly deserves to taste maiden success, having placed second in all three of her career starts to date.
Claudel is the sixth live-foal out of the unraced mare Moosirra (Redoute’s Choice), She has left five winners, with the best of them being the Listed winner Muntaseera (I Am Invincible) and the five-time winner Oakfield Saturn (American Pharoah {USA}).
Claudel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Moosirra is well-related being a full-sister to the South African-Champion 2-year-old colt and Group 1-winner Musir (Redoute’s Choice) and another two Group-winners.
Moosirra, in recent times, has left a 2-year-old gelding named Lucky Dip (Wootton Bassett {GB}), and a weanling filly by Home Affairs.
Claudel was purchased for $280,000 by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) out of the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
State Secret (Russian Revolution) - Disappointed running sixth at Newcastle.
Enviable (Frankel {GB}) - Was a dominant winner at maiden level at Newcastle. The classy Frankel (GB) filly has performed in the past at Group 2 and Group 1-level and should be able to go on with the job now.
