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.
Two well-bred new season 3-year-olds by Home Affairs and I Am Invincible chase maiden success at Wyong on Sunday.
Wyong, Race 3, 1.35pm AEST, Spelling at Domeland 3YO Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1200m
Coco Affair, 3-year-old filly (Home Affairs x Cocoa Doll {More Than Ready {USA}})
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Coco Affair (Home Affairs) chases maiden success at Wyong at start number three. The well-bred filly has run two solid thirds in her career and looks ready to break through.
Coco Affair is out of the three-time winner Cocoa Doll (More Than Ready {USA}) who has left three winners including the Group 3-placed Written Swoosh (Written Tycoon).
Coco Affair as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Cocoa Doll is well-related being a half-sister to the smart Away Game (Snitzel) who won $3.75 million on the track including the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes, she was very unlucky not to win a Group 1, although did manage three Group 1-placings including a runner-up position in the G1 Golden Slipper.
Other stakes winners that feature in the pedigree include the Listed winners Modern Wonder (Snitzel) and Oak Park (More Than Ready {USA}).
Cocoa Doll in recent years has left a 2-year-old colt by Written Tycoon, she has missed to Home Affairs and slipped to Switzerland.
Cocoa Affair was purchased for $260,000 by O’Shea and Charlton Racing and James Bester Bloodstock from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Wyong, Race 4, 2.15pm AEST, Jockeys Celebration Day Maiden Handicap $42,000, 1100m
Steel Will, 3-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Pittsburgh Flyer {Street Cry {Ire}})
The Chris Waller-trained and Go Bloodstock-bred and owned Steel Will (I Am Invincible) looks very hard to beat at Wyong on Sunday. The well-bred colt ran third on debut back in March behind the very exciting The Next Episode (Snitzel) and then a sound seventh at Group 3 level behind Blue Door (Stay Inside).
He has since had a break and a couple of trial wins to prepare himself for his resuming run over 1100 metres.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park
Steel Will is out of the Group 3 and Listed winning sprinter Pittsburgh Flyer (Street Cry {Ire}), she has gone on to become an exceptional broodmare, leaving four winners including the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and G1 William Reid Stakes winner September Run (Exceed And Excel), the Group 3 winning juvenile Steel City (Merchant Navy) and the Listed placed Steel Strike (Exceed And Excel).
Pittsburgh Flyer, since producing Steel Will has left a 2-year-old filly by Snitzel and missed to Home Affairs last season.
Looking Back
Covert Actions (Home Affairs) - Finished midfield by three lengths.
Columbus (Dundeel {NZ}) - Beaten a touch under two lengths when finishing fifth.
Internal Affairs (Home Affairs) - Disappointed when finishing at the tail of the field, not a featured player at all.
