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.
There’s some horses with lovely pedigrees debuting at Canterbury on Friday night, and we have found three of them. Two of them line up in the first race - a Dundeel (NZ) juvenile and a 2-year-old by Written Tycoon. Then, in Race 2, a 3-year-old from a Group 2 winner creates plenty of interest.
Canterbury, Race 1, 6pm AEDT, Coolmore H., $60,000, 1200m
Duvana, 2-year-old colt (Dundeel {NZ} x Stay With Me {Street Cry {Ire}})
Arrowfield Stud and Planette Thoroughbred bred this colt, before Arrowfield offered him at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He was bought by Kia Ora Stud and TFI for $800,000.
The colt is from the 2015 G1 Thousand Guineas heroine, making the colt a half-brother to the Listed winner Waltz On By (I Am Invincible).
Duvana as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Duvana’s grandam is the champion Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) - a five-time elite-level scorer who was named Champion 2YO & 3YO Filly in Australia in 2006 and 2007.
As well as Stay With Me, Miss Finland has produced the stakes performers Bucharest (Deep Impact {Jpn}) - who raced as Flying Turbo in Hong Kong, the ill-fated Miracle Of Love (Dundeel {NZ}), Earth Angel (Animal Kingdom {USA}) and Woodbine (Hussonet {USA}).
The Chris Waller-trained colt, who failed to place in the first three within three trials, will debut under Tyler Schiller.
Canterbury, Race 1, 6pm AEDT, Coolmore H., $60,000, 1200m
Yoshinobu, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Total Attraction {Nadeem})
This colt was consigned by his breeder - Segenhoe Stud - at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to Kia Ora Stud and TFI for $550,000.
The Annabel Neasham-trained Yoshinobu is out of a three-time scorer and Group 2 placegetter, and is a half-brother to the Listed victress Pretty In Pink (Sebring).
Yoshinobu as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The dual G1 Cox Plate hero Fields Of Omagh (Rubiton) features on the colt’s page, as do the Group winners Fontein Ruby (Turffontein), Infinite Grace (Prince Of Birds {USA}) and Cardinal Gem (Choisir).
Yoshinobu won the most recent of two trials and will debut in the hands of Adam Hyeronimus.
Canterbury, Race 2, 6.30pm AEDT, Drinkwise Plate, $60,000, 1250m
Yayoi, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Omei Sword {High Chaparral {Ire}})
Arrowfield Stud bred and sold this filly. She was purchased by Kia Ora Stud for $800,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Yayoi will race in the silks of prominent breeder-owner Alan Bell.
The filly is from a Group 2 victress who also placed in top company. Omei Sword is a blood-sister to the stakes performer Vanuatu (High Chaparral {Ire}), a half-sister to the Listed victors Just Steel (USA) (Justify {USA}) and Lipizzaner (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}). The latter races in Hong Kong as Call Me Teddy (USA).
Yayoi as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Yayoi is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 scorer Muramasa (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
The filly’s grandam, Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock), notched three wins, including the G1 Thousand Guineas in 2009.
Team Hawkes have given her plenty of education ahead of debut, with the filly trialling on five occasions.
Tommy Berry has been engaged for the ride aboard Yayoi.
Looking Back
In Race 4 at Goulburn, Bank Heist (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) was scratched, while Audrey’s Lane (Pierro) was first home. At Hamilton, Medical Autocrat (Dundeel {NZ}) was withdrawn from Race 4.
