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 Sunday an exciting St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) 3-year-old looks very hard to beat at Trentham, while a consistent Castelvecchio mare chases maiden success at Sale.
Trentham, Race 2, 11.36am AEDT (1.36pm local), Rat Tat (He’s 26) Maiden, NZ$25,000, 1400m
Top Marks (NZ), 3-year-old colt (St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) x Savaria (NZ) {Savabeel})
The exciting Top Marks (NZ) (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) chases maiden success at start number two at Trentham on Sunday.
The promising colt ran second on debut at Te Rapa behind Ellendale (NZ) (Proisir) and with natural improvement off that run, he looks very hard to beat in the hands of George Rooke.
Top Marks (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Top Marks is out of the smart mare Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel) who won the G1 New Zealand Oaks, G3 Lowland Stakes and the G3 Wellington Cup on the track. This is also the family of the Group 1 winner Culminate (NZ) (Elnadim) and the exciting 3-year-old Chuchichaschtli (Exceedance) who won at Listed level at her last start.
Since producing Top Marks, Savaria has produced a 2-year-old filly by Satono Aladdin (Jpn), a yearling colt by Chaldean (GB) and is due to foal to Auguste Rodin (Ire) this spring.
Top Marks was purchased for NZ$230,000 by Shaune Ritchie Racing and Colm Murray Racing from the Jamieson Park draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Sale, Race 2, 1.35pm AEDT, Grassdale Estate 4YO+ Maiden Plate, $42,500, 1400m
Castelli In Aria (NZ), 5-year-old mare (Castelvecchio x Believer (GB) {Lawman {Fr}})
The consistent Castelli In Aria (NZ) (Castelvecchio) chases a well overdue maiden win at Sale on Sunday for trainer Enver Jusufovic.
The daughter of Castelvecchio has run four solid placings in her career from only five starts and she comes into this race second-up after running second at Bairnsdale a couple of weeks ago.
Castelli In Aria (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Castelli In Aria is the fourth foal out of Believer (GB) (Lawman {Fr}), she was placed in France and Australia on the track.
She hails from a strong international family with Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) being a Group 3 and Listed winner who also placed in both the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in France, as well as the talented Buccleuch (Peltzer) who has been a six-time winner, including at Listed level as a 2-year-old.
Since producing Castelli In Aria, Believer has produced a yearling filly by Anders.
Castelli In Aria was purchased by Bourne Racing Stables for $105,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Princess Grazi (Capitalist) - Ran a very good second on debut at Ellerslie. She is a 2-year-old to follow this season.
Jenni In Rome (NZ) (Sword Of State) - Ran a brave third on debut at Randwick, just peaking on her run late.
Omolong (Extreme Choice) - Ran a battling fifth at Randwick.
