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.
A $1.8 million colt by Written Tycoon chases Group success at Newcastle, while 3-year-olds by I Am Invincible and Maurice (Jpn) chase maiden success on the Illawarra Grange.
Newcastle, Race 7, 4.05pm AEDT, G3 NZB 3YO Spring Stakes, $250,000, 1600m
Horologist, 3-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x In Her Time {Time Thief})
The Chris Waller-trained Horologist (Written Tycoon) chases his first Group victory at start number four at Newcastle on Saturday. He ran two very good placings at the back-end of his 2-year-old season and then resumed with an impressive victory at Warwick Farm late last month over 1400 metres.
Horologist is the third foal from the super talented Time Thief filly In Her Time who won just over $3.7 million on the track including the G1 Lightning Stakes, G2 Breeders Classic, G2 Millie Fox Stakes and the Listed Sydney Stakes.
Horologist as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
After her outstanding racing career, In Her Time sold at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale fetching $2.2 Million to the bid of Yulong Investments Australia. In Her Time over the last few seasons has produced a 2-year-old filly by Yulong Stud’s young-sire Diatonic (Jpn), a yearling Pierata colt and early last month she foaled a First Settler colt.
Further back in the family features the Coolmore young stallion and The Everest victor in Yes Yes Yes and the stakes-winners Hot As Hell (County), Harlem River (Fastnet Rock), Flaming Hot (County), Craig’s Dragon (Catbird) and Lempicka (Rich Enuff).
Horologist sold for $1,800,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Tom Magnier being the successful purchaser from the draft of Yulong.
Illawarra Grange, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, The Gong Ambassador Mikayla Chilby F&M Maiden Handicap, $42,000, 1300m
Lady Resolute, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Avantage {Fastnet Rock})
The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old filly Lady Resolute (I Am Invincible) makes her debut on the Illawarra Grange on Saturday in the hands of Lee Magorrian.
She has looked talented at the trials, including winning her last one in stylish fashion at Rosehill earlier this month.
Lady Resolute is out of the nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), who as well as being a star race mare is well-related being a half-sister to the Listed Riverton Cup winner Asathought (So You Think {NZ}) and is out of the Listed winner Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who is a half-sister to the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup winner D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who was also multiple times Group 1-placed in Hong Kong.
Lady Resolute as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Te Akau Racing sold Avantage for NZ$4.1 million on New Zealand Bloodstock’s online platform Gavelhouse Plus to Coolmore Stud.
Avantage’s first foal Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was purchased by D C Ellis CNZM (BANZ) for $2.1 million and she has been a three-time winner in New Zealand, Lady Resolute herself was purchased for $1.6 million by Resolute Bloodstock and her 2-year-old filly by I Am Invincible was purchased by Glentree Thoroughbreds and Badgers Bloodstock for $1.05 million earlier this year and is now named Valhalla Star.
In recent times Avantage has produced a City Of Troy (USA) filly in late August.
Illawarra Grange, Race 4, 3.15pm AEDT, Izzy’s Gift Super Maiden Handicap, $60,000, 1400m
Landing Gear, 3-year-old gelding (Maurice (Jpn) x Smooth Landing {Snitzel})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Landing Gear (Maurice {Jpn}) chases maiden success on the Illawarra Grange on Saturday on the back of running a strong second at Hawkesbury on debut early last month and then disappointing a touch when running sixth at Newcastle late last month.
The promising gelding is out of Smooth Landing (Snitzel) who was a winner over 1200 metres and who placed at Listed level in South Australia. She has left three winners at stud and going off his debut, Landing Gear should make it four at reasonably short notice.
Landing Gear as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Landing Gear comes from a strong extended family that includes the Group 1 winner Sky Cuddle (Snippets) and the Group winners Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt), Violate (Sebring), Sky Love (Octagonal {NZ}) and Fast Clip (Snippetson).
In recent years Smooth Landing has left a yearling colt by Hanseatic and unfortunately slipped to Traffic Warden last spring.
Landing Gear was purchased for $120,000 by Triple Crown Syndications from the North Bloodstock draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Water City (I Am Invincible) - Was very disappointing running fourth as a hot favourite at Canterbury.
Gerroa (Home Affairs) - Ran a lovely third resuming at Canterbury, he looks like he will keep improving with racing.
Essay (Zousain) - Was scratched from her race at Canterbury, she instead headed to Gundagai where she won and picked up the Inglis Extra Bonus Super Maiden.
