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.
Exciting first-season sires Royal Meeting (Ire) and Zousain are chasing their first winners.
Doomben, Race 2, 1.38pm AEDT (12.38pm local), Select Fire Systems 2YO Plate, $105,000, 1100m
Fireupzous, 2-year-old filly (Zousain x Fire Up Fifi {Bradbury’s Luck})
The Chris Munce-trained Fireupzous will be the first runner for Widden Stud’s exciting first-season sire Zousain at Doomben on Saturday.
Fireupzous is the sixth foal from Bradbury’s Luck mare Fire Up Fifi, a talented runner who won 12 races. Among them was the G2 Blazer S. at Flemington and the Listed Spear Chief H. Fire Up Fifi was also placed in the G1 Myer Classic and the G3 BRC Sprint.
Fireupzous as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is from the family of the G2 Woodbine Autumn S. victor Stunning Stag (USA) (Running Stag {USA}), the 11-time winner also claimed the G3 Vigil S.
Fireupzous was an $80,000 purchase by Munce Racing from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Ascot, Race 4, 7pm AEDT (4pm local), Magic Millions Gai Waterhouse - Crystal Slipper S., $100,000, 1100m
Pretey Royal, 2-year-old filly (Royal Meeting {Ire} x Prete A Partir {Choisir})
On Saturday, Leneva Park’s promising first-season sire, Royal Meeting, will chase his first winner with the Sharon Miller-trained Pretey Royal at Ascot.
The filly is the fourth foal from the Choisir mare Prete A Partir. A winner as a juvenile, she was placed in the Listed Burgess Queen S. and was fourth in the G3 Sires’ Produce S. and the G3 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic. Prete A Partir is closely related to Black Cuban (Blackfriars), who was third in the G3 Sires’ Produce S.
Pretey Royal as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Furthermore, Pretey Royal is from the family of the G1 Champagne S. and the G3 Sweet Embrace S. victress Carry On Cutie (More Than Ready {USA}), The recent Listed Village S. winner Hypothetical (Pride Of Dubai) and The Mission, who also claimed the G1 Champagne S. and the G3 The Schweppervescence.
The filly was a $30,000 purchase by Sharon Miller from the draft of Gold Front Thoroughbreds from the 2023 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Friday's selections did not have much luck. Iced Chocolate (I Am Invincible) and Concello (Trapeze Artist) were both unplaced at Canterbury, while Bay Of Zea (Shalaa {Ire}) didn't finish in the placings at Moonee Valley.
