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 an Ardrossan gelding looking for maiden success on the Riccarton synthetic track. At Geelong a Per Incanto (USA) filly makes her debut and a half-brother to the outstanding Bella Nipotina also makes his debut.
Riccarton Park Synthetic, Race 3, 11.02am AEST (1.02pm local), Adroy Capital Mdn., $17,000, 1400m
Our Braveheart (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Ardrossan x La Adelita (NZ) {High Chaparral {Ire}})
Our Braveheart (NZ), a son of Waikato Stud’s in-form young stallion Ardrossan, will make his third start on the Riccarton Park Synthetic track on Friday for trainer Danny Crozier after racing well for a second on the same track over the same distance on June 13 behind Cinnamon Girl (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}).
Our Braveheart is the third foal from the High Chaparral (Ire) mare La Adelita (NZ), who was a three-time winner and also city placed. She has so far produced Ginsburg (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) who has been a winner over 1400 metres to kick-start her breeding career. She holds Rocanto (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) as a half-brother, he won 10 races including the Listed Matamata Slipper S., and managed placings in the G1 Sires’ Produce S., G3 Stewards H., G1 Diamond S., Listed Hallmark Stud H., and the Listed Northland Breeders’ S.
Ardrossan | Standing at Waikato Stud
Further back in the pedigree page are the Group performers Running To Win (Peintre Celebre {Ire}), Reigning To Win (King Of Kings {Ire}), Secret Liasons (Nurely {Fr}) and Teasing (NZ) (Sheer Bravado).
Our Braveheart was a $100,000 purchase by RJ Bergerson/Chris Rutten Bloodstock from the draft of Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
La Adelita, since producing Our Braveheart, has left a 2-year-old gelding named Highly Regarded (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}), a weanling colt by Almanzor (Fr) and was served by Ardrossan last spring.
Bet365 Geelong, Race 1, 11.10am AEST, Furphy Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1247m
Inkaantoon (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Per Incanto {USA} x Kaatoon {NZ} {Kaapstad {NZ}})
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Inkaantoon (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will travel to Geelong on Friday to make her debut over 1247 metres in the hands of jockey Jye McNeil.
Inkaantoon is the eighth foal from the Kaapstad (NZ) mare Kaatoon (NZ), who was a four-time winner and her wins included in the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and the G3 Lowland S.
Inkaantoon (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She has had four foals to race and has had two winners, including the four-time winning and Group placed Aotearower (NZ) (Shamardal {USA}) and the winner Cottenham (Redoute’s Choice). Kaatoon is also a sister to the Group placed Black Panther (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) and a half-sister to the Listed placed Cross Roads (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}).
Inkaantoon was a NZ$110,000 purchase by Dalziel Bloodstock/Moody Racing from the draft of Woburn Farm at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Bet365 Geelong, Race 4, 12.50pm AEST, Daisy’s Garden Supplies 3YO Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1447m
Quello Dorato, 3-year-old gelding (Trapeze Artist x Bella Orfana {Star Witness})
Friday’s Geelong meeting will be the venue for the Danny O’Brien-trained well-bred Quello Dorato to make his debut. He has prepared for this assignment with a third at the Flemington jump outs on July 19.
Quello Dorato is by Widden Stud’s sire Trapeze Artist and is out of the Star Witness mare Bella Orfana who was placed at Geelong during her brief racing career.
She has already made a great start to her broodmare leaving the super classy and tough sprinter Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) she has been successful nine times in her career so far, including the G1 Manikato S., G1 Doomben 10,000 S., G1 Tattersall’s Tiara, G2 Sapphire S., G3 How Now S., G3 Quezette S., and the Listed Carlyon S. Also amongst those wins have been top four placings in another 10 Group 1 races as well as a whole lot more stakes races. Bella Sorellina (Capitalist) is her other runner to race and she won three times over sprint distances in Melbourne and managed a city placing at Moonee Valley, she has since been retired and served by the exciting young sire Jacquinot.
Quello Dorato as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bella Orfana also has the mantle of being a three-quarter sister to the talented mare Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) who was successful in the G2 Gilgai S., and the Listed Darby Munro and managed placings in the G1 Flight S., G1 TJ Smith S., G1 Patinack C., G1 1000 Guineas amongst other stakes races.
Another half-sister is Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}) who was also a smart sprinter and was the victor in the G3 Champion Fillies S. in Perth, she has went on to become a successful broodmare leaving four individual winners including Brereton (Zoustar) who cost $1,000,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before he gained success on the track in the G3 Maribyrnong P.
Quello Dorato was a $280,000 purchase by O’Brien Thoroughbreds (Aust) Pty Ltd from the draft of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Perfect Justice (Justify {USA}) ran a very good third on debut while in the same race Retainer (Fastnet Rock) ran a battling fifth. Comic Culture (Capitalist) was a close-up fifth in his race, a win looks around the corner for him.
