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 exciting runners are set to hit the track across New Zealand and Australia on Friday, including a War Front (USA) runner looking to go one better this time after a runner-up placing last start and Fastnet Rock and Astern 3-year-olds debuting at Tamworth and Matamata.
Tamworth, Race 2, 1.15pm AEST, McDonalds Tamworth Super Mdn Showcase Plate, $50,000, 1000m
Rock ‘N’ Reign, 3-year-old gelding (Fastnet Rock x Crimson Reign {Red Ransom} {USA})
Scone trainer Cameron Crockett will prepare the well-bred gelding Rock ‘N’ Reign (Fastnet Rock) to debut at Tamworth on Friday. Leading into his debut run, Rock ‘n’ Reign has trialled five times and been placed in three of them.
Rock ‘N’ Reign is by Coolmore Stud’s super stallion Fastnet Rock out of the Red Ransom (USA) mare Crimson Reign, she was a very quick mare on the track winning five races including three as a juvenile. Her wins included the G3 Blue Kindergarten S., Listed Northwood Plume S., and the Listed Satellite S.
Crimson Reign has already had some great success at stud having already left five winners including the eight-time winning full brother in Deploy (Fastnet Rock) he was successful in the G2 Theo Marks S., (in track record time), the G2 Moreton Cup and the G3 Show County H. Other winners she has left include Without Peer (Redoute’s Choice), Red Hearts (Lonhro), Wokurna (Snitzel) and Quandialla (Redoute’s Choice).
Rock ‘N’ Reign as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Other successful stakes performers in the family include Rock ‘N’ Reigns grandam Crimson Road (USA) (Strawberry Road), as well as Glick (USA) (Theatrical {Ire}), Withallprobability (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), and With Ability (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA})
Rock ‘N’ Reign was a $260,000 purchase by Annabel Neasham/B McGuire from the draft of Torryburn Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Matamata, Race 4, 12.32pm AEST (2.32pm local) Matamata Function Centre Mdn., $17,000, 1200m
Miss Bo Peep (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Astern x Miss Raggedy Ann {Faltaat} {USA})
Bred and raced by the Llanhennock Trust, the well-bred Miss Bo Peep (Astern) is set to debut over 1200 metres for Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott on her home track on Friday.
Miss Bo Peep is a daughter of Darley Stud’s stallion Astern and is out of the Faltaat (USA) mare Miss Raggedy Ann. She was a classy seven-time winning sprinter and those wins included the G1 ARC Railway S., she was also placed in the G3 Foxbridge P., and the Listed Tauranga Classic.
Miss Raggedy Ann has already had some success at stud leaving four individual winners including Keep Moving (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who is a five-time winner in Hong Kong, and the winners Seafaring (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Raggedy Doll (NZ) (Hallowed Crown) and Jessie May (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Astern | Standing at Darley
The Champion New Zealand 3-year-old Buzz Lightyear (NZ) (Gold Brose {USA}) features further back in the family, he was successful in the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas, G1 Bayer Classic, G3 Hawkes Bay Guineas and the Listed NZ Derby Trial.
For her debut race assignment Miss Bo Peep has unfortunately drawn out wide in gate 15 and will be ridden by the in-form jockey, Masa Hashizume.
Cranbourne, Race 3, 6.15pm AEST, Browns Sawdust & Shavings Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1550m
Nakoa, 4-year-old mare (War Front {USA} x Liscanna {Ire} {Sadler’s Wells {USA}})
Cranbourne’s Friday meeting will serve as the venue for the third start for Nakoa (USA) (War Front {USA}) after charging home for fifth on debut on the Sandown-Hillside course over 1300 metres and then running well to finish runner-up at her second start over 1400 metres at Pakenham.
Nakoa is by the top-class American sire in War Front (USA) and has a strong international pedigree with her page full of influential stallions including Danzig (USA), Sadler’s Wells (USA), Danehill Dancer (Ire), Northern Dancer (Can), Fappiano (USA), Private Account (USA) and Be My Guest (USA).
War Front (USA) | Standing at Claiborne Farm, USA
Her dam Liscanna (Ire) was a two-time winner on the track which included the G3 Ballyogan S.
As a broodmare she has flourished and has produced eight winners including three Group 1 winners across the world. These are Opera Singer (USA) (Justify {USA}) the winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, Brave Anna (USA) (War Front) who was victorious in the G1 Cheveley Park S., and Hit It A Bomb (USA) (War Front) who won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Adding to this she has also produced two other stakes placegetters by War Front in Border Town (USA) and Threeandfourpence (USA).
Nakoa was a US$275,000 (AU$421,830) purchase by Mick Price Racing from the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With that pedigree behind her, no matter what she does on the track she will be a very valuable broodmare when she heads to the breeding barn.
Looking Back
Both selections Rubikins (Rubick) and Omnic (NZ) (Proisir) ran strongly from back in the field and finished second respectively, they look like they wont be waiting long for maiden success.
Will It Snow (NZ) (Super Seth) was unfortunately scratched, he will keep for another day.
