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.
Two well-related 3-year-olds are set to debut at Donald in Victoria on Sunday.
Donald, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Donald & District Community Bank Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1350m
Neferure, 3-year-old filly (Justify {USA} x Erin {Ire} {Mastercraftsman {Ire}}))
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable will have strong representation in the opening event at Donald on Sunday. The duo are set to debut a daughter of Justify (USA), Neferure.
The well-related filly is the second foal off the Mastercraftsman (Ire) mare Erin (Ire). A winner in Ireland, she has an unraced colt by Frankel (GB) and an unnamed 2-year-old by Yes Yes Yes. Erin produced a colt by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) earlier this year.
Neferure as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Erin is a three-quarter sister to the dual Group 3 winner Francis Of Assis (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and closely related to the late Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). While her dam Queen Cleopatra (Ire) (Kingmambo {USA}), is a victress of the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial and a placegetter in the G1 Prix de Diane and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas.
Neferure is also from the family of the Champion galloper Henrythenavigator (Ire). The filly was a $130,000 purchase by the Kennedy Racing Group from the draft of Twin Hills Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Donald, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Donald & District Community Bank Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1350m
Time To Chat, 3-year-old filly, (Pierro x Special Memories {Fastnet Rock})
On Sunday, the Pierro filly, Time To Chat, will be the second runner from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable at Donald.
Time To Chat is the second foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Special Memories. She placed in the Listed Canterbury S. and finished fourth in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. Special Memories' first foal, French Emperor (Tavistock {NZ}), has won five races from 1400 to 1700 metres.
Time To Chat as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Special Memories is also a full sister to the brilliant mare Unforgotten; she won the G1 Australian Oaks and the G2 Phar Lap S. and the Chelmsford S.
Time To Chat was a NZ$460,000 purchase by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock from the draft of Phoenix Park at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Saturday's selections fared okay. Gram (Exceed And Excel) was placed at Newcastle. However, Market Magic (Capitalist) was unplaced in the same race. To round out our selections, Barbie's Sister (Spirit Of Boom) finished second at the Sunshine Coast.
