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.
Two exciting runners are set to hit the track at Scone on Sunday, including a half-brother to the Group 1 winner Artorius and a two-year-old son of Pride Of Dubai that won his last trial impressively.
Scone, Race 1, 12.50pm, AEST, Shinzo at Coolmore Country Boosted Mdn P., $30,000, 1300m
Naftali, 2-year-old colt (Deep Field x Gracie’s Lass {Redoute’s Choice})
Scone’s Sunday meeting will serve as the venue for the second start for Naftali, a well-bred son of Deep Field from the Brett Cavanough stable at Scone. On debut Naftali ran a slashing fourth at Dubbo where he was attacking the line strongly late on June 7 over 1100 metres, the step up to 1300 metres looks ideal for this promising colt.
Naftali is out of the unraced mare Gracie’s Lass (Redoute’s Choice), she is out of the Listed winning and Group 1 placed American mare Grace And Power (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Naftali as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Gracie's Lass has produced the talented galloper and now Sire in Artorius his wins included the G1 Blue Diamond S., and the G1 Canterbury S., He was also placed in the G1 July Cup, G3 HDF McNeil S., Listed Exford P., G1 Coolmore Stud S., G1 Platinum Jubilee S., G1 Caulfield Guineas and managed fourth placings in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S., G1 Golden Rose and the G1 George Ryder S.
Grace And Power was also a very good broodmare leaving the classy sprinter Delectation (Shamardal {USA}) who won the G1 Darley C., and the G2 Royal Sovereign S.
Her other winners included Street Power (Street Boss {USA}), Aurinko (Fighting Sun) and Pocket Power (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}).
Gracie’s Lass’s further progeny include a yearling colt by Flying Artie named Sixties, a weanling filly by Home Affairs and was most recently served by Darley Stud’s Pinatubo (Ire).
Naftali was a $400,000 purchase by Michael Costa from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Scone, Race 2, 1.30pm, AEST, Emirates Park Mdn H., $27,000, 900m
Pride To Follow, 2-year-old colt (Pride Of Dubai x Zarock {Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}})
The Brett Cavanough-trained Pride To Follow will run on his home track at Scone on Sunday to make his debut over 900 metres. He trialled well winning nicely over 800 metres on June 12 also at Scone to get himself ready for this race assignment.
The promising colt is by the in-form Pride Of Dubai and is the tenth live-foal from the Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) mare Zarock, who was a three-time winner up to 1200 metres. She has left seven-individual winners including So Say You (So You Think {NZ}), Cry For Peace (Street Cry {Ire}), Zardoro (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), Smiling Manolito (High Chaparral {Ire}), Spritely Emily (So You Think), Emmasam (Star Witness) and Proud With Pride (Pride Of Dubai).
Pride To Follow as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Zarock’s dam Zapeace (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) was a talented mare winning ten-times in New Zealand and Australia including at Group 3 and Listed level, she also was a handy broodmare leaving three winners.
Pride To Follow is bred to be talented and tough. Pride of Dubai is known for his durable top level Group 1 horses such as Pride Of Jenni, Bella Nipotina, Desert Lightning (NZ) and Dubai Honour (Ire), while his dam-sire Rock Of Gibraltar was such a war-horse winning seven Group 1 races, including five of the best Group 1 miles in Great Britain, Ireland and France in a row as a three-year-old
Since producing Pride To Follow, Zarock has produced a weanling colt by Yes Yes Yes and was most recently served in the spring by the WS Cox Plate victor in Adelaide (Ire) in the spring.
Looking Back:
Absinthe (Toronado {Ire}) and Moor (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) both disappointed and finished well back in the field.
Capital Diva (Capitalist) ran a solid third on debut, it was a good effort by this filly.
