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 Thursday, we head to the Hawkesbury for a Written Tycoon filly looking to strike at start number two, and then down to Kyneton where two Inglis Premier Yearling Sale graduates seek easy first kills.
Hawkesbury, Race 5, 4.20pm AEDT, Richmond Club Super Maiden Handicap, $60,000, 1000m
Laughing Moons, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Khalama {Starspangledbanner})
Joe Pride will send out Laughing Moons (Written Tycoon) to claim her maiden at her second start after the filly was beaten by a short neck at the same track last month for a third-placed finish on debut. She draws to the outside of the field, but with only nine after scratchings, she will be close enough to the action to strike.
Laughing Moons is a daughter of six-time winner Khalama (Starspangledbanner), from descends from a half-sister to Royal Academy (USA). This family has also turned out multiple Group winner I Am Me (I Am Invincible) and G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes winner Satono Ares (Jpn).
Laughing Moons as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
YLP Racing paid $150,000 for Laughing Moons at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Supreme Thoroughbreds.
Her half-brother by Russian Camelot (Ire) made $65,000 to the bid of Spicer Thoroughbreds at this year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. The colt is Khalama's last foal.
bet365 Park Kyneton, Race 1, 2.30pm AEDT, Celestial Legend @ Woodside Park Maiden Plate, $35,000, 1856m
Meness, 3-year-old colt (Ghaiyyath (Ire) x Snitzel’s Moon {Snitzel})
Mark Walker sends this Yulong-owned colt out to claim an easy scalp at Kyneton after stringing three seconds together in a row. Meness (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) was beaten a lip on return this preparation over 1300 metres, and then just found a faster one last start at Geelong. He steps up to a distance suiting his pedigree and has the fitness edge to win this time out.
Meness is a half-brother to six-time winner Tiger Tie (Harry Angel {Ire}), out of Snitzel's Moon (Snitzel), a daughter of G3 Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Romantic Moon (More Than Ready {USA}). Romantic Moon is a full sister to Prized Icon and a half to G3 Tesio Stakes winner Matras (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), the second dam of Listed Fernhill Handicap winner and Group 1 performer Whispered Secret (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Meness as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This family has also produced G3 Roman Cup winner and Group 1-placed Oscar's Fortune (Rich Enuff) and G2 Stan Fox Stakes winner Kabayan (Haradasun).
Yulong Investments purchased Meness for $200,000 from Bucklee Farm at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. His half-sister by Sejardan sold for $14,000 at this year's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale to Taige Weir Racing.
Snitzel's Moon was served by Native Trail (GB) in 2025.
bet365 Park Kyneton, Race 3, 3.30pm AEDT, Foxwedge @ Woodside Park Maiden Plate, $35,000, 1103m
Oceans Blue, 3-year-old filly (Bivouac x Radharcnafarraige (Ire) {Distorted Humor {USA}})
Oceans Blue (Bivouac) looks to claim a maiden win at her first start back as a 3-year-old for Danny O'Brien. She was third in her single start as a 2-year-old and showed speed over the 1000 metres that time out, and she returns bigger, bolder, and ready to perform.
Oceans Blue is a half-sister to R. Listed Inglis Nursery runner-up So Serene (Exceed and Excel), who is the first foal from dual Group 3 winner Radharcnafarraige (Ire) (Distorted Humor {USA}).
Oceans Blue as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Her dam Extraterrestral (USA) (Storm Bird {Can}) has produced stakes horses on three continents, with Listed winner Exhaust Note (USA) (AP Indy {USA}) being one of three to strike in Japan, and Alienated (USA) (Gone West {USA}) winning in Listed company in the States, before producing Grade I performers on the continent.
Since Oceans Blue, Radharcnafarraige has produced a yearling filly by Russian Revolution before being covered by Lauda Sion (Jpn).
RMA Bloodstock and Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $260,000 for Oceans Blue at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Segenhoe Stud.
Looking Back
Fringilla (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) - Eye-catching winner by three lengths at Geelong.
Hedjet (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) - Matched Fringilla's winning margin when taking out his own race.
Bureau (Home Affairs) - Disappointed when finishing ninth of 10.
