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 Wednesday, including a Street Boss (USA) filly with a strong form-line chasing maiden success at Canterbury Park, a nicely related Eminent (Ire) 3-year-old stepping up over ground at Ruakaka and an I Am Invincible gelding looking to win his maiden at his third start at Ipswich.
Ipswich, Race 2, 1.03pm AEST, Imperial Racing Colts, Geldings & Entires Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Commandoro, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Rose Of Sharon {Encosta De Lago})
The Sunshine Coast-based trainer David Vandyke will prepare the well-bred gelding Commandoro to make his third start at Ipswich on Wednesday after running a tidy fourth on debut and another fourth at Doomben at the end of last year.
Commandoro has a handy pedigree, he is by Australian’s Champion sire I Am Invincible out of the Encosta De Lago mare Rose Of Sharon. She was a handy filly on the track winning over 1250m and managing placings in the Listed James Carr S., Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and the G1 Queensland Oaks.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Rose Of Sharon has made a good start to her stud career, already having left four-winners. Time Is Precious (Snitzel) was a winner as a juvenile as well as managing placings in the G3 Magic Night S., Listed Very Special Kids P., and the G3 Schweppervescence H., her other winners are More Than A Rose (More Than Ready {USA}), Pierro Rose (Pierro) and Farranfore (Fastnet Rock).
Commandoro’s grandam Rose Reward (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) was a three-time winner and a black-type performer with the highlight of her career being placed in the G1 One Thousand Guineas. As a broodmare she left the classy-performer Lotteria (Redoute’s Choice) she was a eight-time winner including the G1 Myer Classic, G1 Flight S., G2 Surround S., G2 Shannon S., G3 Spring S., and the Listed Show County H., she was also Group 1 placed in the W.S Cox P., Arrowfield Stud S., and the Epsom H. She has also left six-individual winners.
Since producing Commandoro, Rose Of Sharon has produced a weanling filly by Exceedance before retiring from stud.
Ruakaka, Race 1, 10.29am AEST (12.29pm local) Ruakaka-NZ’s Best Bet in Winter Mdn., $17,000 2100m
Sunset Boulevard, 3-year-old gelding (Eminent (Ire) x North Of Sunset (NZ) {Red Ransom {USA}})
The Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained Sunset Boulevard (NZ) will travel to Ruakaka on Wednesday to have his third start over 2100 metres after running two very good placings in his first two starts.
The staying bred gelding third out of the Red Ransom (USA) mare North Of Sunset (NZ), she was a handy staying filly winning four-times from a mile up to 2100 metres including running fourth in the G3 Lowland S. Her first foal Palm Springs (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) has been a handy performer winning six-times in New Zealand including twice at metropolitan level.
Eminent (Ire) | Standing at Brighthill Farm
Wildflower (NZ) (Keeper) is a half-sister to North Of Sunset, she was victorious in the Listed Rotorua Challenge P., and was placed in the G1 Herbie Dyke S., and the G2 Avondale Cup.
A couple other Group 1 winners in the pedigree are the well-bred Habibti (Ire) (Habitat {USA}), the durable classy galloper Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}), and Morshdi (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}).
Sunset Boulevard has a genuine home-bred pedigree being from an established Pencarrow Stud dam line. He is also by Eminent (Ire) the Sir Peter Vela raced Group 2 and dual G1 placed son of Frankel (GB).
Canterbury Park, Race 3, 1.20pm AEST, Robrick Lodge H., $60,000, 1100m
Toque, 2-year-old filly (Street Boss (USA) x Gorgons {Exceed And Excel})
It's a great form line for this Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly who at her first start ran third at Listed grade at Gosford behind the talented runners Highness (Snitzel) and Spywire (Trapeze Artist), These two colts then went on to finish in the placings of the RL Gold Coast Magic Millions C.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds were the purchasers for $200,000 at last year's Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale from the draft of A List Stud Pty Ltd.
Toque as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Toque is by Street Boss (USA) out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Gorgons. Her grandam Euryales (Lonhro) was a five-time including the Listed Gibson Carmichael S. Other handy stakes performers in the pedigree are the super quick young-stallion Profiteer, the Group 1 winner Danglissa (Danehill {USA}) and the Group 3 winner Sweet Redemption (Snitzel).
Since producing Toque, Gorgons has unfortunately missed twice to Vinery Stud’s young sire Ole Kirk.
Looking Back:
La Vie En (Blue Point {Ire}) ran a nice race on debut at Warrnambool placing third, Kazza Joy (Blue Point) was disappointing running eleventh.
