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.
Three exciting runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Thursday, including Lope De Vega (Ire) and Trapeze Artist runners looking to go one better this time after runner-up placings on debut, and a well-bred I Am Invincible 3-year-old having her first start at Kyneton.
Bet365 Park Kyneton, Race 1, 2pm AEDT, Organs Coaches Mdn H., $27,000, 1225m
Lovebird, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Flamboyant Lass {Stratum})
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Lovebird will travel to Kyneton on Thursday to make her debut over 1225 metres.
This I Am Invincible filly is the third foal from the Stratum mare Flamboyant Lass, who was a two-time winner on the track but also classy enough to place in the Listed Reginald Allen H. She also is a sister to Attention (Stratum) who was a two-time winner as a juvenile including the G2 Sires’ Produce S., and the G3 Schweppervescence S.
Lovebird as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Further back in the family is the very talented Pasikatera (Thunder Gulch {USA}), her talented Listed-winning gelding Planet Voyage (Exceed And Excel) and the stakes performed Grebeni (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Flamboyant Lass has been given every chance at stud and in recent years has left a yearling colt by Capitalist, foaled a colt by Home Affairs in the spring as was served by Stay Inside.
Lovebird was a $850,000 purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA), from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2022 Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 2, 6.15pm AEDT, Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale Mdn, $40,000, 1600m
Tertulia (Ire), 4-year-old mare (Lope De Vega {Ire} x Anna’s Rock {Ire} {Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}})
The well-bred Tertulia (Ire) is set to have her second start over 1600 metres for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr at Pakenham on the back of a very promising debut performance on the Pakenham Synthetic last year over the mile distance.
Tertulia is a daughter of Ballylinch Stud’s super sire Lope De Vega (Ire) and is out of Anna’s Rock (Ire). She was a two-time winner on the track and her wins included Listed success in the Tipperary Fairy Bridge S.
Lope De Vega (Ire) | Standing at Ballylinch Stud
She has become a very successful broodmare and her progeny includes five individual winners with the best of them being the five-time stakes winner Breton Rock (Ire) (Bahamian Bounty {GB})
Tertulia was a 150,000 gns (AU$308,000) purchase by Mick Price Racing Australia/D Farrington from the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1).
Grafton, Race 3, 2.20pm AEDT, McLennan Earthmoving Country Boosted Mdn, $30,000, 1175m
Top Act, 3-year-old filly (Trapeze Artist x Bridle Lane {Street Cry {Ire}})
This promising filly was consigned by Lustre Lodge at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to M Dunn/N Jenkinson (FBAA), NSW for $130,000.
The Matthew Dunn-trained Top Act is out of Bridle Lane, a winner at 1600 metres and metropolitan placed. The family does not have a lot of stakes performers up close in the pedigree, but it is the extended family of Coolmore’s dual-hemisphere sire in Fastnet Rock (Danehill {USA}).
Top Act as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bridle Lane has left two individual winners in Zoulane (Zoustar) and Fanciful Flying (Shalaa {Ire}). Bridle Lane has a 2-year-old gelding by Capitalist that has been exported to Hong Kong, a yearling colt half-brother by Zoustar and a Toronado (Ire) filly foal in the spring.
Looking Back
Our selections for Sunday fared okay with Johnny The Kid (Trapeze Artist) finishing second at Warwick Farm. Bengal (Zoustar) ran fourth at Warwick Farm and Adranos (Capitalist) ran third.
