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 Wednesday, we look at a chestnut colt heading for his second start for Coolmore with a wonderful American pedigree, while at Sale we’ve got two horses. The first is a colt from the immediate family of Prized Icon, and the second is a gelding from a Queensland Oaks winner.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 2pm AEDT, Precise Air H., $55,000, 1250m
Cool Kaap, 3-year-old colt (American Pharoah {USA} x Ashley’s Kitty {USA} {Tale Of The Cat {USA}})
This colt was bred by Kia Ora Stud and comes with an interesting pedigree. He is from the broodmare Ashley’s Kitty (USA), who was a Grade 3 winner at Hollywood Park and a half-sister to Cupid (USA), by Tapit (USA), a winner of the G1 Santa Anita Gold Cup and three other Grade-level races in America. She is also a half-sister to the dual Grade 3 winner Heart Ashley (USA) (Lion Heart {USA}) and Indianapolis (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), a Listed winner.
Cool Kaap was consigned by Kia Ora to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he sold to Tom Magnier for $320,000. He is raced in the Coolmore colours.
Cool Kaap as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This race will be the colt’s second after a winning debut at Eagle Farm on June 29 in a 2-year-olds’ maiden. He has since trialled at Beaudesert this month for trainer Chris Waller, and he’ll have James McDonald aboard from barrier one.
Sale, Race 2, 1.35pm AEDT, John Elliman Real Estate Mdn, $37,500, 1108m
Count Nicholas, 3-year-old colt (Toronado {Ire} x Circus Polka {Stravinsky {USA}})
This good-looking colt is from the Stravinsky (USA) mare Circus Polka, the latter representing a strong family for Gooree Park Stud. Circus Polka is a half-sister to the Derby winner and now sire, Prized Icon, along with Matras (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), a Group 3 winner and the dam of the dual Group-placed Zutara (Encosta De Lago), and Romantic Moon (More Than Ready {USA}), a winner of the G3 Sweet Embrace S.
This is a terrific female family with plenty of black type, and Count Nicholas was consigned by Coolmore to the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He sold to Anthony Freedman and Julian Blaxland for $180,000.
Count Nicholas as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman at Mornington and he has trialled extensively. His latest was a fifth at Sandown on September 26. Count Nicholas has drawn barrier one in this debut with jockey Blake Shinn.
Sale, Race 3, 2.10pm AEDT, Sanlam Private Wealth Mdn, $37,500, 1419m
Knightjar, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Provocative {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}})
This unraced gelding is the third foal from the G1 Queensland Oaks winner Provocative (NZ), a daughter of Zabeel (NZ) and herself from the G3 Tasmanian Derby-winning Betwixt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). Betwixt was a half-sister to the dual Group winner in New Zealand, Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop).
Knightjar appeared in the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, where he was picked up for $450,000 by O’Brien Thoroughbreds.
Knightjar as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
He is trained by his buyer, Danny O’Brien, at Flemington and his only appearances to date have been a pair of jump-outs at home through September. He’s drawn barrier two in this debut with Blake Shinn.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Tuesday went reasonably well. At Goulburn, Daytona (Sebring) was a winner while Saveadateforme (NZ) (Savabeel) was unplaced (fourth). At Mildura, Hard To Cross (NZ) (All Too Hard) was also fourth.
