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.
Thursday at Pakenham, we look at a Kiwi-bred filly from the outstanding family of Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}), along with another debutante filly who was an excellent pinhook for Silverdale Farm. At Hawkesbury, TFI has a Justify (USA) colt from the very good family of Crimson Road (USA) (Strawberry Road).
Pakenham, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Work Armour Solutions Mdn (Chute), $40,000, 1200m
Without A Doubt (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Not A Single Doubt x Rina Bettina {NZ} {Reliable Man {GB}})
This unraced filly comes with a big page. Her dam, Rina Bettina (NZ), is a half-sister to the Group 3-winning Valpolicella, who in turn was a brilliant producer and the dam of no less than three Group winners in New Zealand and Australia, and the Group-placed Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), who was second in the G1 Sydney Cup.
Without A Doubt (NZ) is the second foal from Rina Bettina. She was consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she was bought by Danny O’Brien Racing for $375,000.
Without A Doubt (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She is trained by O’Brien at Flemington and has had two preparations. In the latest, she’s had a single jump-out where she was second on St Patrick’s Day at home. Without A Doubt will debut in this race with jockey Jamie Mott from barrier two.
Pakenham, Race 2, 6.15pm AEDT, Superior Food Services Mdn (Chute), $40,000, 1200m
Miss Icelandic, 3-year-old filly (Deep Field x Iceland Turf Belle {Duporth})
This unraced filly is from a half-sister to the stakes winner Vinland (Sebring), and the second dam on the page is Viking Turf Belle (Elusive Quality {USA}), who was third in the G2 Rose Of Kingston S. and Listed Penny Edition S. Further along this pedigree is Mella Maria (Star Witness), who was a Group 2 winner in South Africa, and the R. Listed Inglis Premier winner, Valliano (Equiano {Fr}).
Miss Icelandic was initially sold at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale by Edinburgh Park Stud for $100,000. She was bought by Grant Bloodstock of Silverdale Farm and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA), who then pinhooked her into the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, she was bought by Bahen Bloodstock and Matt Laurie Racing for $440,000, a good return for her vendors.
Miss Icelandic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Miss Icelandic is trained by Laurie at Mornington and she is well-trialled. She’s had three jump-outs this preparation, the latest of which was a second at Stoney Creek on March 15. She heads into this debut with jockey Ben Melham from barrier 12.
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 1.15pm AEDT, Sky Racing CG&E Mdn, $40,000, 1100m
Californian, 2-year-old colt (Justify {USA} x La Pomme De Pin {I Am Invincible})
This unraced juvenile colt was bred by Torryburn Stud and is the first foal from the I Am Invincible mare La Pomme De Pin. The mare is a half-sister to My Favorite (Haradasun), who was third in the Listed Starlight S., while the third dam on this page is the Strawberry Road producer Crimson Road, the dam of the G3 Kindergarten S. winner Crimson Reign (Red Ransom {USA}) and grandam of the Group 2-winning Deploy (Fastnet Rock).
Californian was consigned by Torryburn Stud to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Tony Fung Investments (TFI) for $125,000.
Californian as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt is trained at Rosehill by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou. He’s had two preparations, the latest of which has seen him run second in two trials and the most recent of which was on March 13. Californian will debut in this field and he will have jockey Tim Clark from barrier three.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections for Wednesday were a mixed bag. At Pukekohe, Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) was a winner, while at Randwick-Kensington, Critique (Written Tycoon) was unplaced. At Doomben, Rangatira (I Am Invincible) was also unplaced.
