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 three-year-old runners are set to hit the track across New Zealand and Australia on Sunday, including an Almanzor (Fr) filly resuming at Echuca and an I Am Invincible colt that looks ready to win his maiden at Woodville.
Bet365 Echuca, Race 4, 1.40pm, AEST, The Caledonian Hotel Mdn P., $37,500, 1009m
Miss Swift (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Almanzor {Fr} x Bankside Belle (NZ) {Volksraad {GB}})
The promising Miss Swift (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) is set to have her third start over 1009 metres for Flemington based trainer Danny O’Brien at Echuca on the back of two strong runs as a juvenile in strong company. She ran third behind Ameena (Tassort) who has been group-placed since then and at her second start she ran a solid sixth in Group 3 company behind Tobeornottobe (Pierata).
Miss Swift is a daughter of Cambridge Stud’s in-form shuttling stallion in Almanzor (Fr) and is out of the talented Volksraad (GB) eight-time winning mare Bankside Belle (NZ). Alongside her wins were placings in the Listed Avondale JC 2YO Fillies S., and the Listed Lightning H.
Miss Swift (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Bankside Belle has already become a successful broodmare, she has left the tough Reliable Man (GB) mare Belle Du Nord (NZ) she was successful in the G2 Cal Isuzu S., and placed in the G1 Sires’ Produce S., G1 Levin C., and the G3 Schweppervescence S., Another of her progeny is the speedy filly What Choux Want (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) who was a two-time winner and placed in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S., and the Listed Welcome S.
Miss Swift was a $200,000 purchase by Danny O’Brien Racing from the Curraghmore Draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Woodville, Race 3, 11.09am, AEST (1.09pm local) Intouch Decorators Mdn 3YO., $17,000, 1200m
Detrimental, 3-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Lope De Lope {Lope de Vega {Ire}})
The John Bary-trained Detrimental will travel to Woodville on Sunday to have his second start over 1200 metres . On debut he was only narrowly beaten, running a close-up second to Tudor Fisk (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}) when he was trapped wide throughout over 1000 metres at Tauherenikau on February 6.
The promising colt is by the Australia’s Champion Sire I Am Invincible and is the first live-foal from the Lope de Vega (Ire) mare Lope De Lope, who was a three time winner on the track.
Detrimental as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Apart from Litter (Catbird), Detrimental’s grandam who was a Listed winner, the family page is a little quiet up close in regards to stakes horses but has some lovely pedigree influences throughout including Invincible Spirit (Ire), Zoffany (USA), Canny Lad, Giant’s Causeway (USA), Vettori (Ire) and Danehill (USA).
Since producing Detrimental, Lope De Lope has produced a two-year-old filly by Hellbent and she was most recently served by Better Than Ready.
Detrimental was originally purchased for $100,000 by Ohukia Lodge Ltd from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and was then successfully pin-hooked and sold for $580,000 from the draft of Ohukia Lodge to N & P Balia Family Trust at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Looking Back
Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) won nicely at Te Rapa, he finished strongly and looks a three-year-old to keep an eye out for heading into the spring.
Heart And Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) ran a solid third at the Sunshine Coast, she made nice improvement from her debut run and looks like she will continue to progress.
Beauty Edge (Hellbent) was solid again, placing second at Kembla Grange. A win does not look to far away
