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.
On Saturday, Penman (Written Tycoon) will make his debut at Tatura, while Byron Belle (Snitzel) will attempt to make her presence felt in the G2 Tea Rose S. We finish the day at Newcastle where King’s Star (Zoustar) lines up for the second time in his career.
Tatura, Race 1, 12.10pm AEST, Great Shepparton 3YO Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Penman, 3-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Madam Tracy {Encosta De Lago})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Penman will make his debut at Tatura on Saturday and he will jump from barrier three with Dean Holland booked to take the ride.
Purchased by his trainers and Julian Blaxland’s Blue Sky Bloodstock for $340,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021, the Cambridge Stud-owned colt is out of the winning Encosta De Lago mare Madam Tracy, who is a three-quarter sister to Lake Superior - the dam of dual Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).
Penman as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Madam Tracy herself is a daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Tracy’s Element (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and her nine winners are headed by multiple Group 1-winning Champion Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) and Listed winner Red Element (Red Ransom {USA}).
Randwick, Race 6, 2.40pm AEST, G2 Tea Rose S., $250,000, 1400m
Byron Belle, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Diademe {NZ} {Savabeel})
This well-bred daughter of Snitzel will attempt to break her maiden when she lines up in the G2 Tea Rose S. at Randwick on Saturday.
The John Sargant-trained filly was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and Waimarie Partnership for $460,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021 and she is out Group 1 winner Diademe (NZ), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Unition (Fastnet Rock) and Group 2-placed gelding Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) .
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Diademe herself is a sister to Group 1 winner Embellish, who stands at Cambridge Stud.
The filly will jump from barrier eight with William Pike booked to take the ride.
Newcastle, Race 5, 3pm AEST, Reward Hospitality-Unox CG&E Mdn Plate, $40,000 1200m
King’s Star, 3-year-old gelding (Zoustar x Demanding Queen {Commands})
Having finished fourth on debut, the John O’Shea-trained King’s Star will attempt to get off the mark at Newcastle on Saturday and he will be ridden by Keagan Latham from barrier five.
A $500,000 buy for International Thoroughbred Solutions at the 2021 edition of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the gelding is out of the Commands mare Demanding Queen.
King's Star as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Demanding Queen herself is a half-sister to Imposingly (Zabeel {NZ}) and she is the dam of multiple Group 1-winning Champion mare Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), Group 2 winner Lord Arthur a son of Camelot (GB) and Group 3-winning trio Imposing Lass (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), Full Of Spirit (Flying Spur) and Lady Cumquat (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), as well as Listed scorer The Frontman (NZ) (Makf {GB}).
Looking Back
Our first selection on Friday was Victory Salute (Churchill {Ire}) and she was scratched from the second race at Newcastle, while Lucky Stock (Tavistock {NZ}) finished unplaced at the same meeting. Chiaro (Caravaggio {USA}) was also unplaced at Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic.
