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.
For racing on Friday, we start in New Zealand on the synthetic track at Riccarton, where a well-related Ocean Park (NZ) gelding is on debut. At Echuca, there will be plenty of attention on Starspangledbanner’s half-sister - she lines up for her first start in Race 2, while Ben Brisbourne has a well-bred juvenile making his maiden appearance in Race 4.
Riccarton Synthetic, Race 5, 11.55am AEST (1.55pm local), Maiden 2YO & Up, NZ$14,000, 1200m
Mr Mojo (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Ocean Park {NZ} x Groovy Choice {Redoute’s Choice})
This Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained gelding is out of a two-time winner who is a half-sister to the Group 3 scorer Taikun (Anabaa {USA}), the Listed winner Super Groove (Dehere {USA}), the stakes performer Boogaloo (Encosta De Lago) and the unraced De Groove (Dehere {USA}). The latter is the dam of the Group 3 winner Big Party (Exceed And Excel).
Mr Mojo (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
This family also includes the stakes winners Purple Groove (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}) and Zapurple (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Kavish Chowdhoory has been booked for the gelding’s debut.
Echuca, Race 2, 1pm AEST, Northern Hire Group Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1000m
Golden Day, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Gold Anthem {Made Of Gold {USA}})
A homebred for Makybe Racing and Breeding, this filly is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Starspangledbanner, who returns to the Coolmore roster this spring. A stakes performer herself, Gold Anthem has thrown two stakes performers - Barood (Choisir) and Gold Chant (El Moxie {USA}).
Golden Day as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Golden Day is also closely related to the Group 1 heroine Amicus (Fastnet Rock) and the Listed winner Cheer Leader (Snitzel).
The filly was second in a Werribee trial on May 16
Trained by Andrew Noblet at Ballarat, Golden Day will be handled by Neil Farley.
Echuca, Race 4, 2pm AEST, Two Tarts Catering Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Nothingelsematters, 2-year-old gelding (Sidestep x Orbiting Belle {Spinning World {USA}})
Bred and offered by Telemon Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, this juvenile was bought for $60,000 by Trilogy Racing/CB Bloodstock.
Nothingelsematters as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The gelding is the fifth living foal of a stakes performer who is a half-sister to another stakes performer in Dance On Board (Fasliyev {USA}). Nothingelsematters is a half-brother to the R. Listed placegetter Curvature (Snitzel). Nothingelsematters’ third dam is the Listed winner Bichette (Bellotto {USA}).
Ben Brisbourne trains the gelding, who ran third in an Albury trial on July 19, and he will be ridden by Patrick Moloney.
Looking Back
Sonali (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) was unplaced in Race 1 at Awapuni Synthetic, while Long Genes (U S Navy Flag {USA}) finished outside the first three in Race 4 at Kembla Grange. Ablett (Zoustar) was scratched from Race 1 at Bendigo and is likely to debut in Race 1 at The Valley on Saturday.
