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 at Geelong on Sunday, including a Dundeel (NZ) gelding out of a Group 1 winning mare that looks likely to break his maiden, a sharply bred Exceed And Excel filly looking for success at start number three and a consistent Toronado (Ire) mare that brings very solid form to a maiden race.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 1, 1.10pm AEST, Jim’s Gutter Cleaning Ph 131 546 3YO Mdn P., $37,500, 1733m
Politely Dun, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel {NZ) x Politeness {Street Sense {USA}})
The Flemington based Danny O’Brien trains the Dundeel (NZ) gelding Politely Dun to make his fourth start at Geelong on Sunday over 1733 metres. He has run three solid in his career so far and looks a promising stayer of the future. He has placed at Listed level over a mile as a juvenile and he ran a very good second at Flemington over 1800 metres at his last start on July 20.
This well-bred gelding is out of the Street Sense (USA) mare Politeness, who was a eight-time winner including the G1 Myer C, G3 PJ Bell S, G3 Summoned S, G3 How Now S, G3 Cape Brim Beef Steaks Series Final and the Listed Bel Esprit S. She also placed in the G1 Emirates S, G2 Rubiton S, G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, G3 Geoffrey Belmaine S, and the Listed Lexus Hybrid P.
Politely Dun | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She has also made a successful start at stud leaving three individual winners all by Arrowfield’s outstanding stallion Snitzel. These are Gentility, Ortaire and the promising Apic Run.
This family is littered with top-level performers including the Group 1 winning juvenile’s On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) and Daumier and the other group winners in Parables (Lonhro), Thackeray (At Talaq {USA}), Green Aeon (Snitzel) and Fairytales (Night Shift {USA}).
Politely Dun was a $150,000 purchase by Danny O’Brien Racing from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 2, 1.45pm AEST, Rex Gorell Volkswagen 3YO Fillies Mdn P., $37,500, 1125m
Cora Lynn, 3-year-old filly (Exceed And Excel x Kooweerup {More Than Ready {USA})
Cora Lynn (Exceed And Excel) is bred to be quick being by the noted sprinting sire in Exceed And Excel and out of a two-year-old winner.
She is set to have her third start over 1125 metres for Ciaron Maher at Geelong on Sunday. At her first start on the same track she ran a gallant second when she was a bit luckless behind the very promising Husk (Calyx {GB}) on May 15 and then failed in city class at Sandown on June 15. She resumes on Sunday after a short break and looks very hard to beat
Cora Lynn is the first foal from Kooweerup (More Than Ready {USA}). She was a two-time winner as a two-year-old on the track including the G3 Breeder’s S
Exceed And Excel | Image courtesy of Darley
Her grandam is the quality Group 1 winning Redoute’s Choice mare in Allez Wonder, she was successful in the G1 Toorak H., and the Listed Keith F Nolan C. Her versatility has also been shown when placing in the G1 Victoria Oaks over 2500 metres.
This filly’s pedigree is littered with classy performers and her great grandam Luna Tudor was also a ten-time winner including the G2 Perth Cup. This means that Cora Lynn’s first three-dams are all Group winners.
Further Group winners back in the family are the Group 1 winning and producing stallion Tivaci, and the quality stayer Pretty Pins (NZ) (Pins),
Kooweerup since producing Cora Lynn has left two-year-old and yearling fillies by Written Tycoon and is due to foal later this month to Yulong Stud’s promising young stallion in Pierata, who has recently had the outstanding Imperatriz (I am Invincible) confirmed as having a booking to him this spring.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 3, 2.20pm AEST, Jim’s Rubbish Removal Ph 131 546 Mdn P., $37,500, 1225m
Happy Link, 4-year-old filly (Toronado {Ire} x Nothin’ On Me {NZ} {Not A Single Doubt})
Happy Link, a daughter of Swettenham Stud’s proven stallion Toronado (Ire) , will have her fourth start at Geelong for Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell after running three very good placings from three starts in her career so far. These placings have been at Moonee Valley, Pakenham and Geelong and she looks to be very hard to beat in this maiden event.
The exciting filly is the second foal from the Not A Single Doubt mare Nothin’ On Me (NZ), who was a winner at 1200 metres and stakes placed. She is well-related being a half-sister to Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), she was successful in the G3 ATC Epona S., and the MRC Sandown Cup L.
Happy Link as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Gin Martini has since retired from the race track and was served by the exciting prospect in Anamoe last spring.
Nothin’ On Me since producing Happy Link has left a three-year-old filly named Some Girls (Rich Enuff), has a Too Darn Hot (GB) yearling colt and is due to foal to Pinatubo (Ire) next month.
Happy Link most recently sold for $110,000 at the 2022 Inglis Sydney Ready To Race Sale with Greg Eurell being the successful purchaser from the draft of Moffatt Breaking and Pre Training.
Looking Back
Vieri (Russian Revolution) was scratched, he will keep for another day.
Discreetly Blue (Blue Point {Ire}) ran a very good third, he charged home from well back in the field, it was a very promising debut and he looks one to watch.
