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 Friday, including colts by Ocean Park (NZ) and Justify (USA) who will take each other on at Newcastle and a beautifully bred Justify 3-year-old gelding making his debut.
Newcastle, Race 3, 2.15pm AEDT, Paul Perry 2YO H., $42,000, 1300m
The Big Blue (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Ocean Park {NZ} x Avisto {NZ} {Tavistock {NZ}})
Newcastle’s Friday meeting will serve as the starting point for the career of The Big Blue (NZ), a well-bred son of Ocean Park (NZ) from the John O’Shea stable.
The Big Blue is the sixth foal out of the talented sprinting filly, Avisto (NZ). She was successful in three Listed races including the ARC Great Northern Foal S., Soliloquy S., and the O’Leary S. She has also been a star in the broodmare barn leaving three winners, including Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) - within in her seven wins was the G3 Frances Tressady S., on two occasions. Annavisto has since been retired and was served last spring by Toronado (Ire).
The Big Blue (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Avisto has not had a live foal since The Big Blue but was most recently served by Rich Hill Stud’s very exciting sire in Satono Aladdin (Jpn).
The Big Blue was a $100,000 purchase by John O’Shea Racing/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Curraghmore at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Newcastle, Race 3, 2.15pm AEDT, Paul Perry 2YO H., $42,000, 1300m
Just Party, 2-year-old colt (Justify {USA} x The Party Stand {NZ} {Thorn Park})
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Justify (USA) colt Just Party will debut at Newcastle on Friday over 1300 metres after winning his most recent trial at Rosehill on February 15 over 1030 metres.
This Justify colt is out of the Thorn Park mare The Party Stand (NZ), who was a six-time winner in New Zealand including the G1 New Zealand S. She has also been successful at stud leaving the stakes-placed Foxwedge mare Petition.
Just Party as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This family is littered with top-level performers including the Group 1 winner on both sides of the Tasman in Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante), Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) who was successful as a juvenile in the G2 Auckland TR Eclipse S. and the stakes-placed Crimson Lady (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Just Party was a $110,000 purchase by Ryan and Alexiou Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Newcastle, Race 5, 3.40pm AEDT, New Era Technology 3YO & Up Mdn H., $42,000, 1400m
Just Immortal, 3-year-old gelding (Justify {USA} x Black Mamba {NZ} {Black Minnaloushe {USA}})
Just Immortal, a son of Coolmore Stud’s proven stallion Justify (USA), will make his debut at Newcastle for Randwick trainer’s Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after placing fourth in a trial at Randwick on February 22. The promising gelding is the eighth foal from the Black Minnaloushe (USA) mare Black Mamba (NZ), who was a seven-time winner on the track including the G1 Del Mar John C Mabee H.
She is very well-related being a half-sister to the G1 Australian Derby hero in Roman Emperor (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) and the talented G2 Wellington Guineas victor in Rios (NZ) (Hussonet {USA}).
Just Immortal as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Black Mamba since producing Just Immortal has left a Capitalist filly foal and was most recently served by Stay Inside, but unfortunately missed.
Just Immortal sold for $150,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds being the successful purchaser from the draft of Evergreen Stud Farm.
Looking Back
Lovebird (I Am Invincible) and Top Act (Trapeze Artist) each finished third on Thursday, with the latter going very close to getting the win, beaten only 0.12l at Grafton. At Sportsbet-Pakenham, Tertulia (Ire) (Lope De Vega) finished fourth.
