Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
Wednesday at Randwick-Kensington, we’ve got a full sister to the brilliant Group winner Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel), while at Doomben, a Capitalist filly will debut from the family of the dual Group 1 winner Atomic Force (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). To wrap things up, we look at a full brother to Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) who is making his debut on Wednesday in Perth.
Randwick-Kensington, Race 1, 1.25pm AEST, Hyland Race Colours H., $55,000, 1300m
Marelle (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Savabeel x Hopscotch {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
Three-year-old Marelle (NZ) is a product of Waikato Stud and, aside from her recognisable white, green and royal blue silks, she is a daughter of the Waikato-owned mare Hopscotch (NZ), a daughter of O’Reilly (NZ). This is a famous family because Hopscotch is also the dam of Amarelinha, a full sister to Marelle and a winner of the 2021 G1 New Zealand Oaks and three other Group races.
Hopscotch, herself, is a half-sister to the brilliant 3-year-old Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga), a winner of four Group 1 races including the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas and the G1 George Ryder S.
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
Marelle is trained at Rosehill by Chris Waller, and the filly has had only two trials to date, She was only 3l off the winner of her last trial on July 29. She has drawn barrier three in this debut race and she will carry jockey Brenton Avdulla.
Doomben, Race 2, 1.43pm AEST, Country Music Raceday 10 September QTIS 3YO Fillies’ Mdn., $37,000, 1200m
Caesaris, 3-year-old filly (Capitalist x Caesar’s Princess {Exceed And Excel})
This unraced filly has the Capitalist factor about her but with a decent female page too. She is the fourth foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Caesar’s Princess, making her a half-sister to the Western Australian stakes-placed filly Princess Pierro (Pierro). The latter was fourth in the G3 WATC Gimcrack S., and this is the same family as the very good stakes-placed filly in Sydney, Show Of Force (Luskin), in turn the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Atomic Force.
At the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Black Soil Bloodstock team, in partnership with John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) and Gollan Racing, thought enough of this filly to buy her from Willow Park Stud for $290,000.
Caesaris as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Caesaris is trained by Gollan at Eagle Farm, and she’s had two trials this winter preparation after a winning trial-debut last December. She has drawn barrier 10 in this debut with jockey Angela Jones aboard.
Belmont, Race 2, 2.39pm AEST (12.39pm local), Tabtouch Better Your Bet Mdn, $22,500, 1700m
Affluential (NZ), 4-year-old gelding (Zed {NZ} x Opulence {NZ} {Danroad})
This unraced gelding will get immediate interest because he is a full brother to no less than the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant, who is lining up at the end of this month for her French debut. By now, this female page is well-known, but it’s worth revisiting the fact that the third dam, Chalet Girl (NZ) (Imposing), is a daughter of the famed Cotehele House (GB) (My Swanee {GB}) and, as such, a half-sister to both Commands and Danewin.
Affluential (NZ) was consigned to the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale (Book 1) by Grangewilliam Stud, where he was picked up by the WA-based John Chalmers Bloodstock Services. Chalmers paid NZ$140,000.
Affluential (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Affluential has been a later bloomer in Perth for his Karnup trainer, Adam Durrant, but he’s been quite good in trials at Lark Hill. The latest, on July 25, resulted in a third, and in this debut he has drawn barrier seven with jockey Clint Johnston-Porter.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Tuesday fared poorly. At Hawkesbury, Villeneuve (Vancouver) was unplaced, as was Sir Ming (Shalaa {Ire}). At Ballarat, Shriyaa (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) was unplaced too.
