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’s edition of Looking Ahead takes place all along the east coast, with expensive 3-year-olds in Sydney and Melbourne and a chance in Brisbane for a first-season sire to have his inaugural winner.
Sandown Lakeside, Race 1, 1pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Owners Incentive Scheme Mdn, $55,000, 1400m
Red Mile, 3-year-old gelding (Justify {USA} x Bethsaida {Ire} {Dubawi {Ire}})
The training partnership of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman will unveil the well-bred gelding Red Mile in the opening race at Sandown’s Lakeside circuit on Wednesday.
Purchased for $450,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Tasman Bloodstock, there has been plenty of education conducted, with six jump-outs dating back to March 2023 to ready him for a racetrack debut.
Red Mile as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He is by Justify (USA), who has made global waves early into his stallion career, siring 103 winners around the world, 21 of which tasted success across Australia and New Zealand. His dam, Bethsaida (Ire) is an unraced three-quarter sister to Discovery Island (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Group 3 winner. Bethsaida has already had success as a producer, with Kingman (GB) filly Hail to the Queen a winner over 1150 metres.
Doomben, Race 1, 2.53pm AEDT (1.53pm local), Doubtland 1st Yearlings Selling 2024 @Widdenstud Mdn, $40,000, 1200m
Pulpit, 2-year-old filly (Microphone x Sarah’s Holy Belle {USA} {El Corrdeor {USA}})
Only one dedicated 2-year-old race is run across the country on Wednesday, with the opener at Doomben offering a field of 10 juveniles a chance to break their maiden.
Amongst those is Pulpit for veteran trainer Barry Lockwood, who makes her debut under the guidance of Martin Harley. From one barrier trial, this filly has shown some promise, running fourth of eight but showing strength at the end of the 800 metres.
Microphone | Standing at Darley
She will be the third runner for first-season sire Microphone, who has already produced the stakes-placed Miss Judas from his freshman crop. Pulpit is out of 2-year-old winner Sarah’s Holy Belle (USA), who earned a trio of placings in black-type races, two of which came in Louisiana. Pulpit is her first foal to race, she lost a Deep Impact (Jpn) foal from her first cover in 2020 and slipped in 2022. She visited Capatilist for the 2023 season.
Pulpit was offered for sale as a weanling, Wahha Thoroughbreds paid $18,000 for her at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, having been offered by Newgate Farm. She was bred by S F Bloodstock in New South Wales.
Warwick Farm, Race 4, 3.45pm AEDT, Ghaiyyath First Yearlings Super Mdn, $100,000, 1400m
Duke Of Lancaster, 3-year-old colt (Pierro x Ben’s Duchess {USA} {Munnings {USA}})
Having his second start on Wednesday in the $100,000 maiden at Warwick Farm is well-related colt Duke Of Lancaster, who will look to go two better than his Kembla Grange debut.
The Chris Waller-trained colt found a midfield position for his first start, and was able to get through the line well over 1300 metres. He steps up in distance to 1400 metres for this race, and acquires the services of superstar jockey James McDonald, who will shortly jet off to Hong Kong on a short-term license.
Duke Of Lancaster as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
By Pierro, who has produced 35 stakes winners to date, he is out of Ben’s Duchess (USA), a winner of the G3 Los Angeles Woman S. when racing. She has gone onto be a reliable producer as well, her first foal Mohawk Brave (Extreme Choice) is a three-time winner, while second foal Enzina (Menari) has had success over 1000 metres. Duke Of Lancaster is her third foal to race.
Tom Mangier of Coolmore Australia was drawn to this colt at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, parting with $1,000,000 to secure him out of the draft of Newgate Farm.
Looking Back
Tuesday saw One Sided Love (Better Than Ready) withdrawn from race three at Bairnsdale, while Costner (Trapeze Artist) was unplaced at Newcastle in the sixth race on the program.
