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 Saturday, including a well-bred Yes Yes Yes filly that is bred to be quick, a Deep Field colt looking for Listed success and an expensive $1,100,000 purchase by Snitzel looking to win at Newcastle.
Ruakaka, Race 2, 10.05am, AEST (12.05pm local), Ruakaka NZ’s Best Bet In Winter 2YO SW&P., $35,000, 1100m
Dua Dance (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Yes Yes Yes x Cornerstone {Sebring})
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Dua Dance (NZ) will make her debut over 1100 metres at Ruakaka on Saturday on the back of two very good trials in preparation for this race assignment. She won very impressively at the Waipa trials in October last year where she really caught the eye with her speed. Resuming from a spell, she trialled nicely for second at Rotorua on June 11 behind Pieces Of Eight (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}).
Dua Dance is the first foal from the Sebring mare Cornerstone, who was unraced on the track.
Dua Dance (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Cornerstone's dam Upon This Rock (Fastnet Rock) was a very smart mare winning six times from 1100 metres up to 1600 metres including one as a juvenile. Her stakes wins were in the Listed Starstruck C., and the Listed Dark Jewel C.
This family has so much depth to it further back and other Group-performers in the pedigree include Criterion, Gaze On (Intergaze), Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock), Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice), Bittercreek (Snitzel), Bull Point, Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock), Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) and Malice (Teofilo {Ire}).
Cornerstone since producing Dua Dance has produced Per Incanto (USA) yearling and weanling fillies and she was served once again by the son of Street Cry (Ire) in Per Incanto last spring.
Dua Dance was a $115,000 purchase by Wexford Stables from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Newcastle, Race 3, 1.50pm AEDT, Newcastle Bathrooms 2YO H., $42,000, 1300m
Manos, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Carry On Alice (SAF) {Captain Al} {SAF})
Newcastle’s Saturday meeting will serve as the venue for the second start for Manos, a regally-bred son of Snitzel from the Peter and Paul Snowden stable at Randwick. At his first start he run a solid fourth at Canterbury on June 10 when he ran on solidly from back in the field behind the promising Steel Strike (Exceed And Excel).
Manos is the third foal out of the talented South African mare Carry On Alice (SAF) (Captain Al {SAF}). She was successful eleven times in South Africa including in five Group 1 races and another two Group races. She has also made a promisng start to her broodmare career leaving Altruist (Snitzel) who has won twice and placed fourth in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (C&G).
Manos as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Manos grandam Carry On Katie (Western Winter {USA}) was also a talented mare in South Africa, she saluted the judge four times including the G2 Greyville Debutante S., as well as managing eight stakes placings throughout her career.
Carry On Alice since producing Manos, has delivered a Snitzel yearling filly, a The Autumn Sun weanling filly and was most recently served in the spring by Arrowfield Stud’s star stallion Snitzel again.
Manos was a $1,100,000 purchase by China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Eagle Farm, Race 2, 12.18pm, AEST, Listed Impressu Print Group Tattersall’s S., $160,000, 1400m
Depth Of Character, 2-year-old colt (Deep Field x Caricature (NZ) {Power} {GB})
The Annabel Neasham-trained Depth Of Character will attempt to win his first stakes win at start number three at Eagle Farm on Saturday. On debut he won very impressively at Canterbury on May 29 when he charged home from last in running, and at his second start he chased the very good colts home in Megastar Heart (Star Turn) and Embassy (I Am Invincible) in Listed company on the Eagle Farm track.
This well-related colt is the second foal from the Power (GB) mare Caricature (NZ), who was a winner at 1600 metres and placed in the Listed Taranaki RC Oaks Prelude, G3 Lowland S., and was fourth in the G1 New Zealand Oaks. Caricature was a $600,000 purchase by China Horse Club from the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Depth Of Character as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Depth Of Character’s second dam is the Octagonal (NZ) mare Octapussy, she was handy on the track winning six times from 1400 metres up to 2000 metres and managing placings in the G1 Doomben Cup and the G2 Emancipation S. She has thrived as a broodmare leaving eight winners including three stakes winners.
Included in her stakes-winning progeny are Pussy Willow (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who was the victor in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S., Inside Agent (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA})) who won the Listed Poseidon S., and Pussy O’Reilly (O’Reilly) who won the Listed Manawatu Flying H., she has since left Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) who this season has won the G3 Sunline Vase and the G3 South Australia Fillies C., as well as placing in the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Other top class black-type winners in the pedigree are Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}), Dopff (NZ) (Tights {USA}), Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar), Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Caricature since producing Depth Of Character has delivered a Zoustar weanling filly and was most recently served in the spring by Russian Revolution.
Depth Of Character was a $180,000 purchase at the sales by Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd from the draft of The Chase at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
On the Ballarat Synthetic track Judicial (Written Tycoon) was very impressive winning his race softly on debut, Graceful (Dundeel {NZ}) won very nicely and she looks like she has a big future.
Regina Star (Kingman {GB}) was disappointing in her race finishing ninth.
