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.
Wednesday will see the first-season sires Yes Yes Yes and Microphone represented at Warwick Farm. Meanwhile, at Sale, a Dundeel (NZ) full brother to a Group 2 winner will debut.
Warwick Farm, Race 1, 1.25pm AEDT, Drinkwise Plate, $60,000, 1000m
Maili, 2-year-old filly (Yes Yes Yes x Lanikai {I Am Invincible})
It would be fitting for Yes Yes Yes to sire his first winner during The Everest week. As many would be well aware, the son of Rubick claimed the spectacular race in 2019.
Now standing at Coolmore Stud, Yes Yes Yes will be represented by the Brad Widdup-trained Maili at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Maili as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Maili is the fourth foal from the I Am Invincible mare Lanikai. She won three races and has produced the Listed Sofitel S. winner Kalino (Pierro).
Furthermore, this is the family of the G1 Oakleigh Plate victress River Dove (Hurricane Sky) and her Group 2-winning son, Headwater.
The filly was a $300,000 purchase by BK Racing from Tyreel Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Warwick Farm, Race 1, 1.25pm AEDT, Drinkwise Plate, $60,000, 1000m
Micro Magic, 2-year-old filly (Microphone x Holder Sunset {Shamardal {USA}})
Local trainer Marc Conners will debut Micro Magic, a daughter of Darley’s first-season sire Microphone.
The filly is the fourth foal from the Shamardal (USA) mare Holder Sunset. She won three races over the sprint trips and is a daughter of the Group 2 placegetter Montana Sunset (More Than Ready {USA}).
Montana Sunset is the dam of the Group 3-placed Iphimedia (Exceed And Excel).
Micro Magic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Furthermore, Micro Magic is related to the G2 Roman Consul S. victress Montana Flyer (Flying Spur).
The filly was an $18,000 weanling purchase by HXQ Bloodstock when offered by Torryburn Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. She was then reoffered as a yearling by Fernrigg Farm at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where M.C Conners Racing paid $60,000.
Sale, Race 2, 1.35pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Racing Club 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1423m
Big Swan, 3-year-old colt (Dundeel {NZ} x Swan River {Danehill Dancer {Ire}})
This Ciaron Maher and David Eustace debutant, Big Swan, a son of Dundeel, will test his luck at Sale on Wednesday.
The colt is the ninth foal from the Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare Swan River. She is the dam of Big Swan’s full sister - Victoria Quay, who claimed the G2 Wakeful S. and was placed in the Listed Hill Smith S.
Big Swan as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Swan River is a half-sister to Count Encosta (Encosta De Lago), a six-time winner; he claimed the G2 Tulloch S. and ran fourth in the G1 Metropolitan H.
Big Swan was a $250,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
On Tuesday, Ludovica (Nicconi) was unplaced at Newcastle, while Chanchos (Grunt {NZ}) and Miss Marceau (Zoustar) also failed to figure in the business end at Mornington.
