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.
This Saturday, it is all about the juveniles as they step out for the first time on raceday. A runner each from the Listed Maribyrnong Trial, the G3 Breeders' Plate, and the G3 Gimcrack Stakes features amongst selections.
Flemington, Race 1, 12.25pm AEST, Listed Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, $175,000, 1000m
Ankaa, 2-year-old colt (Anamoe x Starry {Exceed And Excel})
An impressive colt from the first crop of Horse Of The Year Anamoe makes the cut for Victoria's first juvenile event. Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Ankaa (Anamoe) won his most recent jump-out on this track and was third at his previous outing. Harry Coffey will guide him from one of the widest barriers in the field of six.
Ankaa is a half-brother to a proven juvenile speedster in Celestial Bling (Capitalist), who was second in her crop's G3 Gimcrack Stakes. Dam Starry (Exceed And Excel) is one of six winners out of Graded winner Dream Play (USA) (Hennessy {USA}), along with G2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Zululand and the stakes performers Chicago Bull - Chicago Star (Sing) (Exceed and Excel) and Moscow Night - Makin (Sing) (Written Tycoon).
Ankaa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dream Play is a half-sister to G1 Starlet Stakes winner Diplomat Lady (USA) (Forestry {USA}) from a very successful family that has also produced G1 United Nations Stakes winner Hunter O'Riley (USA) (Tiz Wonderful {USA}).
McEvoy Mitchell Racing, Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA), OTI Racing, and De Burgh Equine teamed up to pay $300,000 for Ankaa at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Widden Stud.
Starry has an Anamoe filly to sell at the 2027 yearling sales and delivered a filly by Capitalist in mid September.
Royal Randwick, Race 2, 12.40pm AEST, Group 3 Arrowfield Breeders' Plate, $250,000, 1000m
Nonu (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Anamoe x Easifar (NZ) {Pride of Dubai})
Bjorn Baker will unleash another exciting son of Anamoe in Nonu (NZ), bearing the same silks that won the G1 Golden Rose Stakes last weekend. Appearing at the first juvenile trials at Kensington, Nonu was an impressive three and a half-length winner of his heat, and Jason Collett sticks along for the ride on debut.
Nonu is the first foal out of Listed Princess Stakes winner Easifar (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), a half-sister to South African dual Group 3 winner Readytogorightnow (More Than Ready {USA}).
Nonu (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Easifar's own dam is a half-sister to Listed winner Miss Minden (Bellotto {USA}), dam of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Miss Danehill (Danehill {USA}) and the Group 2 winner, Group 1 performer Pentastic (Pentire {GB}). Another half-sister produced Group 3 winner and Group 1-performed Primus (Flying Spur). This is also the close family of Joie Denise (Danehill {USA}), dam of Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}) and Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}).
Offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by Wentwood Grange, Nonu was a NZ$600,000 purchase for Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), and Ridgmont.
Easifar has a filly by Proisir to sell in 2027, and was covered in 2025 by Super Seth.
Royal Randwick, Race 3, 1.15pm AEST, G3 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes, $250,000, 1000m
Shraddha, 2-year-old filly (Ole Kirk x Spicy {Fastnet Rock})
Over in the fillies' event is another forward winner from the first trials. Shraddha (Ole Kirk) won her heat by three quarters of a length and looks to emulate the likes of O' Ole and King Kirk before her as top performers for Ole Kirk in the first juvenile races of the season. Tommy Berry sticks with her for Michael Freedman.
Shraddha is a full sister to Flying Fury, who knocked off her win last season as a 2-year-old, and is the second foal out of Spicy (Fastnet Rock), a winning daughter of dual Listed winner Paprika (General Nediym). Spicy's half-sister Canadian Spice (Vancouver) was a sharp city winner who also placed in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery.
Shraddha as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This family has most notably been active as of late with Ferivia (Astern), winner of the G3 Quezette Stakes and the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude last season.
Michael Freedman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $250,000 for Shraddha at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Vinery Stud.
Spicy has a filly from the first crop of Hawaii Five Oh to sell in 2027, and returned to the stallion last spring.
Looking Back
Sihaya (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) -
Miss Home Body (Stay Inside) -
