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 two-year-old runners are set to hit the track across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday including a Belardo (Ire) gelding chasing maiden success at New Plymouth, a Proisir colt running at Newcastle and a Too Darn Hot (GB) colt looking for Group success on the Sunshine Coast.
New Plymouth Raceway, Race 2, 10.52am, AEST (12.52pm local), A B Electrical Ltd 2YO, $35,000, 1200m
Belardi (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Belardo (Ire) x Japonica {Encosta De Lago)
The promising Belardo (Ire) gelding Belardi (NZ), is set to make his debut over 1200 metres for Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman at New Plymouth on Thursday.
Belardi has a strong international pedigree with his pedigree full of influential stallions in particular, his first three broodmare sires which are Encosta De Lago, Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) and Sadler’s Wells (USA).
Belardi is the fourth foal from Japonica. She was placed on the track but has already proven to be a useful broodmare. She has left four foals to race and they have all been winners, Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) has been successful in the G3 Championship S, and Been A Pleasure (NZ) (Spill The Beans), Sir Zino (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) and Sasanquas (NZ) (Spill The Beans) have all been winners.
Belardo (Ire) | Standing at Bearstone Stud
Further back in the pedigree are the Group winners Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}), Egot (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Trekking (Street Cry {USA}).
Japonica since producing Belardi has left a weanling colt by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and was most recently served in the spring by the Cambridge Stud resident Almanzor.
Newcastle, Race 1, 11.15am, AEST, Gosford IT 2YO H,, $160,000, 1200m
Omnic (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Proisir x Zanyetta {NZ} {Tavistock} {NZ})
Top trainer Ciaron Maher will prepare the well-bred colt Omnic (NZ) to make his second start at Gosford on Saturday over 1200 metres. On debut he ran a very good second on the same track when charging home late to finish second over 1000 metres behind the promising Bucareli Bay (U S Navy Flag {USA})..
Omnic is by Rich Hill Stud’s top class stallion Proisir out of the Tavistock (NZ) mare Zanyetta (NZ), she was a useful staying mare winning four races from 1600 metres up to 2100 metres.
Zanyetta is a full-sister to the Listed Singapore Stewards Cup winner Titanium (NZ) (Tavistock) who won six races in total, and is out of Zanetta (NZ) (Centaine) who was an eight-time winner including the G3 Summer Cup.
Omnic (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Omnic’s pedigree suggests that he is bred to appreciate a distance of a mile and further and bringing together two strong New Zealand stallions of recent times in Proisir and Tavistock, this also brings a duplication of the blood brothers Sadler’s Wells (USA) and Fairy King (USA) who are out of the influential mare Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}).
Since producing Omnic, Zanyetta has produced a weanling colt also by Proisir and was left empty last spring.
Omnic was a $120,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing from the draft of Highden Park at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Sunshine Coast, Race 4, 2.18pm, AEST, Group 3 TAB Ken Russell Memorial Classic, $200,000 1200m
Perspiration, 2-year-old colt (Too Darn Hot (GB) x Latitude {Casino Prince)
The G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic will be the stakes-race debut for the promising colt Perspiration as he continues to build his impressive career record.
Perspiration is a son of Darley Stud’s exciting shuttling sire in Too Darn Hot (GB) and is out of Latitude (Casino Prince). She was a five-time winner on the track. Latitude is also a half-sister to Sugar Boom (Spirit Of Boom) who was successful in the Listed Mode P., and Intencion (Commands) who was a three time winner placed in the G3 HDF McNeil S.
It looks like a strong form line for this Ciaron Maher trained colt who at his first start ran well in a strong maiden - finishing second behind the promising colt Roselyn’s Star (Shalaa) who was group placed at his subsequent start. To add to his form at Perspiration’s second start he ran on strongly from the back of the field to place behind the promising Super Seth colt Feroce (NZ) who has now won twice and placed fourth in Listed company. At his third start Perspiration won impressively at Mornington beating the subsequent Caulfield winner Snack Bar (Frosted {USA}).
Perspiration as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Latitude since producing Perspiration has unfortunately not had a lot of luck, failing to produce a live foal but has been most recently served in the spring by Too Darn Hot again to hopefully produce a full sibling.
Perspiration was a $270,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Group 1 Bloodstock from the draft of Rosari Farm from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Moonlight Dream (Zoustar) ran a solid enough race on debut for a fifth placing at Gatton. On The Mark (Shooting To Win) continued his solid form running a nice second at Geraldton a win will come shortly and Tuscan Storey (Written Tycoon) was scratched at Geelong, he will keep for another day.
