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 we have three juveniles making their debuts, two of which are winners of their sole trials. All three run in separate states within a 20-minute timeframe. Beginning at Rosehill Gardens, an expensive daughter of I Am Invincible steps out for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. Then we look to Caulfield, where a Michael Freedman colt from the family of Astern gets underway, followed shortly by a daughter of Spirit Of Boom at the Gold Coast.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 1, 12.20pm AEDT, Elitegroup.Sydney H., $150,000, 1100m
Zoukerette, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Walk With Attitude (Hussonet {USA}})
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace from their Warwick Farm operation, Zoukerette has taken in two trials this month. Placing in both, she flashed home late to take second-place in the latest of those two and looks like a filly who could make a big impact on her first start, though she will have to overcome barrier seven under Louise Day.
Bred by Milburn Creek Stud, Zoukerette was sold at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and her trainers for $800,000. With the bloodstock agent keeping a share, she is raced in the colours of Iskander Racing and Breeding, with her third shareholder being Mr S Griffiths.
Zoukerette as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Given her price-tag she is unsurprisingly well-bred, being out of Listed winner Walk With Attitude, and a half-sister to Listed winner Zoukerino (Snitzel), who also won as a juvenile and races for a similar ownership group.
Caulfield, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, Listed Merson Cooper S., $175,000, 1000m
Fludway, 2-year-old colt (Exceed And Excel x Apamurra {USA} {Lonhro})
Heading from Michael Freedman's Randwick base to make his first start in a Listed event at Caulfield, Fludway is obviously well-considered by connections. The 2-year-old colt showed plenty of promise when making all in his sole trial on the Randwick-Kensington track earlier this month, and becomes the second juvenile the trainer has sent interstate this year, after Mexico (Capitalist) placed second on his debut in the R. Listed Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley last month.
Operating at a 50 per cent strike rate in the last seven days, Freedman will be hoping to make it second time lucky, and Fludway will jump from barrier three under Daniel Moor.
Fludway as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fludway's dam, Apamurra, was placed as a juvenile in the UK, and he is from the family of Astern via his second dam Alizes (NZ) (Rory's Jester), who bred blue hen mare Essaouira (Exceed And Excel) the dam of the Darley stallion.
Fludway was bred and sold by Torryburn Stud, making $110,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, with Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) purchasing in conjunction with the trainer.
Gold Coast, Race 2, 1.38pm AEDT (12.38pm local), Gold Coast Turf Club 2YO Plate, $105,000, 1100m
Mighty, 2-year-old filly (Spirit Of Boom x Great Dansaar {Choisir})
This filly is sent forth by trainer Tony Gollan after an impressive, 1.75l trial victory last month at Doomben. She will be familiar to the trainer, being the half-sister to one of his stable stars Isotope (Deep Field).
The pair are from three-time winner Great Dansaar, who is a sister to multiple Champion Yankee Rose (All American), and her only other foal to race was, like Isotope, a juvenile winner.
Spirit Of Boom | Standing at Eureka Stud
Picked up by John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) in conjunction with Yes Bloodstock and Black Soil Bloodstock, who now share the ownership with Ozzie Kheir, Mighty was a $300,000 purchase at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, having been bred by Daandine Pastoral.
With the field reduced to five, Mighty looks set to start at prohibitive odds under James Orman, with the pair jumping from barrier two.
Looking Back
Friday's selections provided little joy. After Anavinci (I Am Invincible) was scratched at Canterbury's night meeting, 3-year-old colt Frankham (Frankel {GB} made his debut at Cranbourne and managed only sixth.
