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.
On Wednesday, we head to Geelong with a trio in search of their maiden victory. A Godolphin filly finally gets her prefered distance, an imported son of American Pharoah (USA) is poised to strike, and a regally bred son of Home Affairs promises to deliver on debut.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 2, 3.40pm AEDT, Roderick Insurance Brokers Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1765m
Fringilla, 3-year-old filly (Ghaiyyath (Ire) x Painted Firetail {Lonhro})
This Lindsay Park-trained daughter of Ghaiyyath (Ire) will be getting close to her prefered trip when she steps up to the 1765 metres of Wednesday's event at her third start. Fringilla (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) was a closing second over 1425 metres at her last start and just ran into something a bit faster, but the extra 260-metre dash on her next assignment gives her much more room to wind up.
A homebred for Godolphin, Fringillia is a half-sister to G3 Adrian Knox Stakes winner Honeycreeper (Teofilo {Ire}) out of city-winning Painted Firetail (Lonhro), who was also fourth in the G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes.
Painted Firetail's second dam is the international matriarch Blue Note (Fr) (Habitat {USA}), dam of G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Zieten (USA) (Danzig {USA}) and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Blue Duster (USA) (Danzig {USA}).
Ghaiyyath (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Blue Note's many stakes-winning descendants include G1 Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace (Jpn), G1 Man O' War Stakes winner Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), G1 Just A Game Stakes winner Chili Flag (USA) (Cityscape {GB}), and 2026 Group 3-winning sisters Sky Safari (GB) (Zoustar) and Pink Sonata (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}).
Fringilla is the last foal from her dam. Honeycreeper has 2-year-old Pahirini (Proisir) and a yearling colt by Shamus Award to run for her, and is due next month to Anamoe.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 3, 4.15pm AEDT, Connect Tel Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1447m
Hedjet (USA), 4-year-old entire (American Pharoah (USA) x Sarah Lynx (Ire) {Montjeu {Ire}})
An intriguing recent edition to the stable of Clinton McDonald, Hedjet (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) is having just his second start on Australian soil when he lines up on Wednesday. He was placed over a mile as a juvenile in the Northern Hemisphere and was second again last start over a similar trip to his second-up assignment.
A half-brother to stakes performers Segra (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) and Sleek Lynx (USA) (War Front {USA}), Hedjet is out of G1 Canadian International Stakes winner Sarah Lynx (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G3 Geelong Cup winner Steel Prince (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and G3 Sandown Classic Trial Stakes winner Sugar Boy (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}).
Hedjet (USA) as a 2-year-old | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Sarah Lynx's Group 3-winning dam Steel Princess (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) is a half-sister to Listed Taumarunui Gold Cup winner and Kiwi Group performer Gentil Tonton (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}).
A US$50,000 (AU$72,000) yearling at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for Margaret O'Toole, Hedjet was then purchased for 125,000 gns (AU$249,000) by Shane McGrath Bloodstock at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale last year.
Sarah Lynx has yearling and weanling fillies by Tacitus (USA), who welcomed his first Grade I winner at the weekend with G1 Frizette Stakes winner Dotsy (USA).
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 4, 4.50pm AEDT, McGrath Estate Agents Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1247m
Bureau, 3-year-old gelding (Home Affairs x Lady Azamour (NZ) {Azamour {Ire}})
Chris Waller will launch the career of Bureau (Home Affairs) at Geelong on Wednesday over a trip that looks to suit the son of a G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner. Bureau has been well educated with five jump-outs and the Waller team are finally ready to pull the trigger on his career.
Bureau is the second foal out of Lady Amazour (NZ) (Amazour {Ire}), a three-time winning half-sister to G1 New Zealand Derby winner Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock), G2 Waikato Guineas winner Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner), and Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Royal Ocean (Fastnet Rock). Another sister, Aethelflaed (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), was second in the G1 VRC Oaks.
Bureau as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Descending from a sister to Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) and G3 Tokyo City Cup winner Milanova (Danehill {USA}), this family also features G3 Ladies Day Vase winner Oh Too Good (All Too Hard).
Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller Racing purchased Bureau for NZ$100,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. Oz Bloodstock picked up Bureau's half-brother by Starspangledbanner for $45,000 at this year's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, and he has been catalogued as Lot 331 at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Lady Amazour produced a filly by Star Turn in 2025 before visiting Hawaii Five Oh.
Looking Back
Lucsain (Zousain) - A sizzling half-length winner, with a four and a half-length gap back to third place at Newcastle.
Hidden News (Stay Inside) - Second by half a length, but had to work out for a gap while the winner had a much easier trip.
