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 well-bred 3-year-olds by Zoustar, Home Affairs and Lucky Vega (Ire) chase maiden success across Australia on Wednesday.
Canterbury, Race 1, 1.25pm AEST, Captivant @ Vinery Stud 3YO C&G Handicap, $100,000, 1200m
Lorax, 3-year-old colt (Zoustar x Fuddle Dee Duddle {Red Ransom {USA}})
Canterbury’s Wednesday meeting will be the venue for the Chris Waller-trained well-bred Lorax (Zoustar) to chase his maiden win.
He ran a fast-finishing third on debut behind Wolf Gap (Palace Pier {GB}) on debut at Warwick Farm back in February, and after resuming from a break, he ran a solid third behind the promising Scintillation (I Am Invincible) at Randwick late last month.
Lorax as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lorax is by Widden Stud’s outstanding sire in Zoustar and is the ninth foal out of the Red Ransom (USA) mare Fuddle Dee Duddle, who was very talented on the track winning four times from 1100 metres to 1600 metres including in the G3 Champion Fillies Stakes in Perth. She has gone on to become a successful broodmare leaving six individual winners including the Group 3 winners Brereton (Zoustar) and Space Rider (Zoustar).
Other family members include the outstanding Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) an 11-time winner in her career so far including the G1 The Everest. G1 Manikato Stakes, G1 Doomben Ten Thousand Stakes and the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara.
Since leaving Lorax, Fuddle Dee Duddle has left a 2-year-old filly by Zoustar, and is due to foal to Zoustar again in late September.
Lorax was purchased for $675,000 by China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock from the draft of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Canterbury, Race 2, 2pm AEST, TAB 3YO Fillies Handicap, $60,000, 1200m
Affari, 3-year-old filly (Home Affairs x Super Too {Hinchinbrook})
The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old filly Affari (Home Affairs) chases maiden success at start number three at Canterbury on Wednesday. The well-bred filly ran a solid third on debut behind Forest King (Tiger Of Malay) back in late February and then ran a solid fifth in Listed company at Eagle Farm behind Boomelli (Spirit Of Boom).
She has since had a nice break and a couple of trials to prepare herself for her resuming run where she will be ridden by Sam Clipperton.
Affari as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Affari is by the exciting Home Affairs and is out of the speedy Super Too (Hinchinbrook), a five-time winner up to 1000 metres who was placed three times at Group level. She is a half-sister to the Group 3-winning stallion Super One.
In recent seasons, Super Too has produced an I Am Invincible 2-year-old colt and is due to foal to Zoustar any day now.
Affari was purchased by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $370,000 from the Glenlogan Park draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bendigo, Race 2, 1.35pm AEST, Sandhurst Stockfeeds Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1000m
Novamira, 3-year-old filly (Lucky Vega (Ire) x Unforgotten {Fastnet Rock})
The Chris Waller-trained and Yulong bred and raced filly Novamira (Lucky Vega {Ire}) makes her debut on Wednesday at Bendigo on the back of some solid jump-out form in recent months at Flemington.
Novamira is the third foal out of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) who was also placed at the elite level another four times.
Novamira as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Novamira is a full-sister to the dual-winner and Group 2-placed filly Mystery ‘n’ Drama (Lucky Vega {Ire}) and the winner Anyone (I Am Invincible).
There are some beautiful stallion influences within Novamira’s pedigree, including Shamardal (USA), Cape Cross (Ire), Nureyev (USA), Danehill (USA) and Galileo (Ire).
Unforgotten, in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly by Pierata, a yearling filly by Written Tycoon, and missed to Extreme Choice to Northern Hemisphere time in late March this year.
Novamira was passed in short of her $500,000 reserve at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Rapid Revenue (Written Tycoon) - Was a brave winner at Hawkesbury. After being caught a bit wide he fought on bravely to score.
Farfetched (Farnan) - Was a deserved winner at Hawkesbury. The well-bred mare now has a maiden win to her record which is important for breeding later in life with such a strong pedigree.
