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.
The exciting Steel Will (I Am Invincible) takes his place at Rosehill on Saturday, while well-bred types by Farnan and Maurice (Jpn) chase maiden success at Kembla Grange.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 2, 12.10pm AEST, Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines BM72 3YO Handicap $160,000, 1300m
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 Rosehill on Saturday. The well-bred colt resumed with a dominant victory in maiden grade at Wyong earlier this month and this race very much looks a possible stepping stone back to black type company, so therefore he looks the one they all have to beat.
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 2-year-old 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.
Kembla Grange, Race 3, 1.39pm, AEST, Beer Carpenter Racing Champion Trainer/Local Trainer Maiden Handicap, $42,000, 1200m
Andarna, 3-year-old filly (Farnan x Amazing Belle (NZ) {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The beautifully-bred 3-year-old filly Andarna (Farnan) makes her fourth start at Kembla Grange on Tuesday for trainers Robert and Luke Price. The 3-year-old ran second on this track, resuming on July 16, before battling away in fifth on the Illawarra Grange circuit last start at the end of last month.
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 last 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 colt foal by Snitzel, and is due to foal to Switzerland in late September.
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.
Kembla Grange, Race 5, 2.49pm, AEST, Markey Saddlery Maiden Plate, $42,000, 1200m
Stitzer (NZ), 3-year-old colt (Maurice (Jpn) x Never Been Kissed (NZ) {Tivaci})
The Tom Charlton-trained Stitzer (Maurice (Jpn) chases maiden success at Kembla Grange on Saturday at start number three. The good-looking colt showed plenty of promise in a couple of strong races as a 2-year-old, and looks a great chance first-up, even with taking into account that he should appreciate more time and distance.
Stitzer is the first foal out of the classy filly Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci) who was successful in the G1 Flight Stakes.
Stitzer (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Never Been Kissed is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Hollywood Hero (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), and comes from the extended family of the dual Group 2 winning New Zealand stallion Ocean Emperor (NZ) and the classy Group 1 winning mares Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel).
Never Been Kissed, in recent years, has produced a 2-year-old colt by Ocean Park (NZ), and a yearling colt by Ardrossan before she sadly died late last year.
Stitzer was purchased by O’Shea and Charlton Racing and James Bester Bloodstock for $300,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Talkin' Stern (Astern) - Was a brave winner at Geelong, managing to get the winning stride in late.
Avengers (Snitzel) - Disappointed running eighth at Geelong, he didn’t offer much when asked.
