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.
Promising types by Farnan and Written Tycoon chase maiden success at Kembla Grange and Cranbourne on Thursday.
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 12.05pm, AEST, Greenway Turf Solutions 2YO Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1000m
Andarna, 2-year-old filly (Farnan x Amazing Belle (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The beautifully-bred Andarna (Farnan) makes her second start at Kembla Grange on Tuesday for trainers Robert and Luke Price. The 2-year-old filly ran a battling sixth on debut on the same track in February, but has since had a break and won a trial on the Illawarra Grange over 800 metres on July 3.
Andarna is the second foal out of Amazing Belle (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who only raced twice. Her first foal also by Farnan, Commanding Belle has been a dual-winner already on the track.
Andarna as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Amazing Belle is a half-sister to the New Zealand Champion mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who was a 19-time winner, including at Group 1 level 14 times. Another half-sister is the dam of the G3 Winx Guineas winner Cellarmaster (NZ) (Bivouac), while this season's G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) also features in the family.
Amazing Belle, in recent years, has left a weanling colt by Snitzel, and was served by Switzerland last spring.
Andarna was purchased for $220,000 from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Noble Racing and Robert and Luke Price Racing.
Southside Cranbourne, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Summerset Retirement Village Cranbourne North Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1000m
Koko, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Tawteen {Stratum})
The Mark Walker-trained Koko (Written Tycoon) is set to chase maiden success at Cranbourne on Thursday. She has run three good placings in her career so far, is a very honest filly and deserves a winning turn.
Koko is by Written Tycoon and is the sixth foal out of Tawteen (Stratum), she was a seven-time winner including at Listed level, and her half brother Well Sprung (Star Witness) was also successful at Listed level amongst his four wins.
Koko has some outstanding international pedigree influences deeper in her pedigree, her grandam Sprung (USA) was a Group 3 winner in America and is by the very good sire Grand Slam (USA).
Koko as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing Koko, Tawteen has left a 2-year-old named Teen Torque (Grunt {NZ}), a weanling filly by Pierata and was served by More Than Looks (USA) last spring.
David Ellis (CNZM) was the purchaser of Koko for $120,000 from the draft of Yulong at the 20234 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Rocket Girl (I Am Invincible) - Was disappointing running eleventh at Warwick Farm.
Leonessa (Snitzel) - Was scratched from her race at Warwick Farm, she will keep for another day.
Claudel (So You Think {NZ}) - Ran an honest second at Warwick Farm, a win is getting close.
