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.
There’s quite a few well-bred 3-year-olds stepping out for the first time on Wednesday, and we will focus on three - one at Wyong, two at Sandown-Hillside. We kick off at Wyong with a colt by Snitzel, while at Sandown-Hillside, we have a Savabeel colt and a colt by Almanzor (Fr).
Wyong, Race 2, 2.20pm AEDT, Save The Date 25/3 Mdn H., $45,000, 1200m
Meet Me In Bondi, 3-year-old colt (Snitzel x Bondi Blonde {Red Ransom {USA})
Bred by Strawberry Hill Stud, this colt made $200,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, when offered by Glastonbury Farms. He was bought by Sam Kavanough Racing and Still Point.
The colt is from a 1400-metre winner, who is a sister to the R. Listed winner Tippitaka, and a half-sister to the stakes winners Danroad, Strawberry Boy (Redoute’s Choice), and Newtown Jet (USA).
Bondi Blonde has produced the Group 1 runner-up Bondi, who now stands at Lynward Park Stud in Western Australia.
Meet Me In Bondi as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Meet Me In Bondi’s second dam, Strawberry Girl (USA) (Strawberry Road), was a stakes performer and notched five wins and she is a sister to the stakes winner Strawberry A. O K.
The Group 1 winner Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) also features on this colt’s page.
Meet Me In Bondi, who has been unplaced in three trials, will be ridden by Ashley Morgan from barrier one.
Sandown-Hillside, Race 1, 3.40pm AEDT, Ladbroke It! Plate, $55,000, 1300m
Von Hauke (NZ), 3-year-old colt (Savabeel x Tiara {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
Waikato Stud bred this colt, who was offered by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was purchased by Cliff Brown Racing for $190,000.
The Brown-trained Von Hauke (NZ) is from a two-time winner and is a brother to the four-time winner Savvy Crown (NZ) and the three-time winner Savvy Sovereign (NZ).
Von Hauke as a yearling (NZ) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt’s grandam, Royal Lady (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), is a half-sister to the stakes performer Diamond Hill (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), and she has thrown the Group 3 victor Ransom Express (Red Ransom {USA}).
Von Hauke’s third dam, Royal Tiara (NZ) (Blanco {USA}), and fourth dam, Maganyos (Hun) (Pioneer {USA}), are both stakes winners, with the former saluting in top company.
Jamie Kah has the ride aboard the colt, who hasn't trialled publicly.
Sandown-Hillside, Race 2, 4.15pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Mates Mode Plate, $55,000, 1400m
Futile Resistance (NZ), 3-year-old colt (Almanzor {Fr} x Lazumba {Sebring})
Bred by The Sunlight Trust, this colt was consigned to the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was knocked down to Ultra Thoroughbred Racing/Baystone Farm for $800,000.
Futile Resistance (NZ) is the third foal from a Group 2 placegetter, whose first two to race are both winners.
Futile Resistance (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt’s grandam, Tantalized (Octagonal {NZ}), was unraced and is a sister to the Group 3 placegetter Provokes, and a half-sister to the Listed winner Aquiver (Danehill {USA}), while the third dam is the Don’t Say Halo (USA) mare Excited Angel - a winner of seven stakes races, including two at Group 2 level.
Trained by Danny O’Brien, Futile Resistance will be partnered by Blake Shinn.
Looking Back
At Newcastle, Outsider (Snitzel) ran second on debut in Race 4, while Align The Planets (Pierro) was unplaced in Race 3. At Hamilton, Bengal Boy (Dundeel {NZ}) was scratched from Race 4.
