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 nice types by Lucky Vega (Ire) and Justify (USA) chase maiden success across Australia on Thursday.
Gosford, Race 3, 1.40pm AEST, Deltacorp Remedial Super Maiden Handicap, $60,000, 1100m
Temptation, 3-year-old filly (Lucky Vega (Ire) x Wonderful Feeling {Encosta De Lago})
The promising Bjorn Baker-trained Temptation (Lucky Vega {Ire}) makes her debut at Gosford on Wednesday and looks a very good chance on the back of two impressive trial wins at Rosehill last month.
Temptation is the seventh foal out of the placed Encosta De Lago mare Wonderful Feeling. She has left three winners with the best of them being the four-time winner Maozi (Helmet) who was Listed-placed and in turn has left the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes placed Vahvay (Tagaloa).
Temptation as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Wonderful Feeling is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jungle Rocket (NZ) (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}) and the listed-placed Aggregator (NZ) (Done Eduardo {NZ}).
In recent years, Wonderful Feeling has left 2-year-old and yearling colts by Lucky Vega {Ire}) and missed to both Growing Empire and Panthalassa (Jpn) last sseason.
Temptation was purchased for $150,000 by Darby Racing from the Yulong draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet Ballarat-Synthetic, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Hertz Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1500m
Lancetta, 4-year-old mare (Justify (USA) x Tulip {Pierro})
The Ciaron Maher-trained 4-year-old mare Lancetta (Justify {USA}) chases maiden success at start number three on the Ballarat Synthetic on Thursday. She ran fifth on debut back in June last year and after a long time off the scene she ran a promising third on the Ballarat Synthetic at the end of last month, she has been given time to get over that effort and lines up again over 1500 metres which looks suitable.
Lancetta is out of the smart mare Tulip (Pierro), she was a winner at Group 3-level twice and placed in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes.
Lancetta as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Tulip is also very well-bred being a full-sister to the Listed Gosford Gold Cup winner Les Vampires (Pierro) and a half-sister to the Group 3-winner Sacred Eye (High Chaparral {Ire}).
This is also the extended family of the Group 1-winners and very successful sires Flying Spur and Encosta De Lago.
Tulip, in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly named Daeseya (Justify {USA}) and is due to foal to the exciting Switzerland late next month.
Lancetta was purchased for NZ$300,000 by Ciaron Maher Racing at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from the Curraghmore draft.
Looking Back
Endeavour (Home Affairs) - Ran honest enough when placing fourth at Canterbury while Leonessa (Snitzel) ran fifth in the same race.
La Reina Vega (Lucky Vega {Ire}) - Unfortunately the meeting at Cranbourne was abandoned, so she will have to keep for another day.
