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 Wednesday, including a well bred Dundeel (NZ) two-year-old debuting at Sandown-Lakeside. While Too Darn Hot (GB) and Snitzel two-year-old colts compete against each other on the Randwick-Kensington track.
Sportsbet Sandown Lakeside, Race 1, 2.30pm AEDT, Sportsbet Fast Form H., $55,000, 1300m
Epimeles, 2-year-old colt (Dundeel {NZ} x Apicius {Redoute’s Choice})
Epimeles the well-bred son of Dundeel (NZ) is set to make his debut over 1300 metres for Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young at Sandown on Wednesday.
Epimeles is the first foal from Apicius (Redoute's Choice). She was a two-time winner on the track over the mile but possesses a very strong female family.
She is a three-quarter-sister to the Group 3 winner and Hong Kong Champion Griffin in Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice) and a half-sister to Oz Empress (Exceed and Excel) who won the Listed Jim Moloney S., and Key (Exceed And Excel) who placed in the G3 Wellington S.
Epimeles as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Further back in the family are the NZ Champion filly and four-time Group 1 winner in Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), the dual Group 3 winning Frankel (GB) filly in Argentia and Stonecoat (Pierro) who was successful in the Listed Morphettville Guineas.
Epimeles was a $130,000 purchase by Ohukia Lodge/Mark Pilkington Management FBAA from the draft of Evergreen Stud Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Apicius since producing Epimeles has visited a nice mix of stallions, she has left a yearling colt by So You Think (NZ), an Ole Kirk filly foal and was most recently served by Arrowfield Stud’s star shuttler in Maurice (Jpn).
Randwick-Kensington, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT, Toyota Forklifts H., $60,000, 1100m
Imperial Force, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Ultimate Fever {Gold Fever {USA}})
The Chris Waller-trained Snitzel colt Imperial Force will debut at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday over 1100 metres after winning his latest trial impressively at Rosehill on March 18 over 900m. Top jockey James McDonald rode Imperial Force in the trial and will stick with him on race day.
This colt is bred on a pattern that is already proven, Snitzel seems to click well when mated with the Gold Fever (USA) mare Ultimate Fever, she was also handy as a racehorse and was a winner as a juvenile of the Listed Gosford Slipper.
Imperial Force as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has been very successful at stud leaving four individual winners including Sprightly Lass (Snitzel) who was victorious in the G3 DC McKay S., and the Listed Bel Esprit S. and Le Cordon Bleu (Snitzel) who won the Listed Canterbury Classic. Other winners are Warmth (Hinchinbrook), Red Hot de Lago (Encosta De Lago) and the non-winning but Group placed Stratosphere who now stands at Grenville Stud in Tasmania.
Imperial Force was a $1,600,000 purchase by Coolmore Australia from the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Randwick-Kensington, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT, Toyota Forklifts H., $60,000, 1100m
Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) , 2-year-old colt (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Rosa Carolina {NZ} {Savabeel})
Hezdarnhottoo (NZ), a son of Darley Stud’s shuttling stallion Too Darn Hot (GB), will have his second start at Randwick-Kensington for Bjorn Baker on Wednesday after running a tidy third on debut on the same track.
Hezdarnhottoo is the third foal from the Savabeel mare Rosa Carolina (NZ), who was a three time winner and also Listed-placed in the South Pacific Classic at Randwick. She has so far produced two winners including Sinister Sauce (The Autumn Sun) and Diva Carolina (Tivaci).
Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Rosa Carolina’s dam is the three-time Listed winner and Group 1-placed mare Ombre Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) she has been a very handy broodmare leaving three individual stakes-placed progeny in Rosa Carolina, Court Order (NZ) (Pins) and Room For Excuse (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}).
Hezdarnhottoo was a NZ$170,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Elsdon Park at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Our selections for Tuesday: Etincelle (Grunt {NZ}) ran fourth at Geelong.
