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 early in its career chasing maiden success, 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 runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Friday. We have a beautifully bred Pride Of Dubai 3-year-old gelding looking for success on debut at Geelong. Also a 2-year-old full sister to the Group 1-winning colt Veight (Grunt {NZ}) also at Geelong and a Justify (USA) colt out of a Group 1 NZ Oaks winner looking to break his maiden at Canberra.
Bet365 Geelong, Race 4, 3pm AEST, The Valley Inn Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1500m
Hiyaam Proud, 3-year-old gelding (Pride Of Dubai x Hiyaam {NZ} {High Chaparral {Ire}})
The well-bred Hiyaam Proud (Pride Of Dubai), is set to make his debut over 1500 metres for Mornington-based trainer Matt Laurie at Geelong on Friday.
Hiyaam Proud is the first foal from Hiyaam (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}). She was a star on the track winning three races including the G1 Vinery S., and the Listed City S., in addition to this she was also dual Group 1 placed in the Victorian and Australian Oaks.
Hiyaam Proud has a very strong international pedigree full of influential stallions including Street Cry (Ire), High Chaparral (Ire), Danehill (USA), Sir Tristram (Ire) and Sadler’s Wells (USA).
Hiyaam Proud as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Hiyaam Proud’s great-grandam is the beautifully bred and well-performed Marquise (NZ) (Gold And Ivory {USA}) she was successful in the G1 Captain Cook S., and also produced a Group 1 winner in Shower Of Roses (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who was first past the post in the G1 Arrowfield Stud S. Hiyaam Proud is also a descendant of - the famed matriarch Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}).
Other Group 1 performers and stallions in this deep female pedigree are Octagonal (NZ), Colombia (NZ), Kaapstad (NZ), Danewin and Commands.
Hiyaam, since producing Hiyaam Proud, has left a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and was most recently served by Snitzel in the spring.
Bet365 Geelong, Race 1, 1.30pm AEST, Bet365 Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1400m
Rock Pop, 2-year-old filly (Grunt {NZ} x Neena Rock {Fastnet Rock})
Bred and raced by Yulong Investments, the well-related Rock Pop (Grunt {NZ}) is set to have her second start over 1400 metres for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy at Geelong on Friday. On debut she battled on well to finish runner-up at Ballarat over 1100 metres.
Rock Pop is a daughter of Yulong Stud’s promising young stallion Grunt (NZ) and is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Neena Rock. She was a five-time winner including the G3 Cuddle S., and the G3 Angst S.
Grunt (NZ) | Standing at Yulong
She has already made her mark at stud leaving the very good colt and future stallion in Veight (Grunt {NZ}) who has been successful in the G1 George Ryder S., G2 VRC Sires' Produce S., G2 Australia S., and the G3 HDS McNeil S.
Neena Rock, since producing Rock Pop, has left a weanling colt by Tagaloa and was most recently served again by Grunt last spring.
Canberra, Race 5, 3.10pm AEST, Relaxed Living Landscapes/Interiors Plate, $22,000, 1600m
Justice Served, 3-year-old colt (Justify {USA} x Savvy Coup {NZ} {Savabeel})
Justice Served is a son of Coolmore Stud’s exciting shuttling sire in Justify (USA) and is out of Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel). She was a six-time winner in New Zealand and her wins included Group 1 success in the New Zealand Oaks and the Livamol Classic. Savvy Coup is also a full sister to the very progressive New Zealand stayer in Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) who over the weekend captured his first stakes success in the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup in the famous Waikato Stud colours.
It looks like a strong form line for this Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt who at his first start ran well in a strong Goulburn super maiden - finishing second behind the promising gelding Flying Bandit (Trapeze Artist). To add to his form this Trapeze Artist gelding won very well at Kembla Grange at his next start also.
Justice Served as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Savvy Coup since producing Justice Served has left a 2-year-old filly by Fastnet Rock, a yearling colt by Zoustar and was most recently served by So You Think (NZ).
Justice Served was a $400,000 purchase by Blueblood Thoroughbreds/Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA)/Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott from the draft of Coolmore Stud from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Of our selections for Thursday, Signor Bill (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) ran home well down the outside of the track, only to be narrowly (0.15l) defeated in Race 1 at Pakenham. In Race 4 at the same track, Disco Prince (Justify {USA}) showed speed from the gates but failed to quicken when asked in the straight, while One Command (I Am Invincible) failed to impress at Wyong.
