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 3-year-olds are set to hit the track at Mornington on Friday, including an Exceed And Excel filly that is bred to be quick and progeny by So You Think (NZ) and I Am Invincible chase maiden success when they battle it out against each other.
Mornington, Race 4, 2pm AEST, Wes Bourke Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Cora Lynn, 3-year-old filly (Exceed And Excel x Kooweerup {More Than Ready {USA})
Cora Lynn is bred to be quick being by the noted sprinting sire in Exceed And Excel and out of a 2-year-old winner.
She is set to have her third start over 1000 metres for Ciaron Maher at Mornington on Friday. At her first start at Sandown 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 Friday after a short break and looks very hard to beat in this race.
Cora Lynn is the first foal from Kooweerup (More Than Ready {USA}). She was a two-time winner as a 2-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 10-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 Waikato Stud-based stallion Tivaci and the quality stayer Pretty Pins (NZ) (Pins),
Kooweerup since producing Cora Lynn has left 2-year-old and yearling fillies by Written Tycoon and is due to foal 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.
Mornington, Race 5, 2.30pm AEST, Rhon & Darryl Nation Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Campari Twist, 3-year-old filly (So You Think {NZ} x Bitter Twist {California Dane})
The Matt Laurie-trained Campari Twist (So You Think {NZ}) will run on her home track on Friday searching for a maiden win at start number three.
The promising filly is the fifth foal from the California Dane mare Bitter Twist, who was a winner over 1000 metres. Bitter Twist has been a reliable producer with all four runners to race being winners with the best of them being the three-time winner Old Fashioned (Dissident) and the other winners being Ranveer (Winning Rupert), Justabittapress (Press Statement) and Oreo Twist (Oratorio).
Campari Twist as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
There is a lot of depth to this female family with Campari Twist’s grandam Inspect (Integra) placing in the Listed Australia Day Cup, leaving a Listed winner in Hoegaarden (Flying Spur) and also being a full sister to the outstanding and durable eight-time Group 1 winner Intergaze (Integra).
Bitter Twist has since foaled a Playing God 2-year-old filly, a yearling filly by Gingerbread Man and is due to foal to Aysar this month.
Campari Twist was a $300,000 purchase by Carringbush Park from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Mornington, Race 5, 2.30pm AEST, Rhon & Darryl Nation Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Close To Midnight, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Thrillster {Starspangledbanner})
The well-related Close To Midnight (I Am Invincible) is set to make his debut for Flemington trainer’s Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin at Mornington on Friday on the back of a very quiet jump-out at Flemington on August 5.
Close To Midnight has plenty of speed in his veins being a son of the Champion Stallion I Am Invincible and out of Thrillster (Starspangledbanner) who was a 3-time winning sprinter and tasted success in the Listed Atlantic Jewel S.
Thrillster is a half-sister to the very talented Extreme Warrior who was the victor in the G3 Blue Sapphire S., and the Listed Bel Esprit S., he now stands at Rosemont Stud. Another half-sister is Free Thrills (Unencumbered) who was successful three times and Listed placed at Moonee Valley.
Close To Midnight as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Other stakes winners within this very quick family are Crossyourheart (NZ) (Show A Heart), Gotta Have Heart (Show A Heart), Swear, All Thrills Too (St. Covet), Adaline (Court Of Jewels {NZ}), Regal Thrills (Royal Academy {USA}) and She Will Be Loved (Strategic).
Thrillster since producing Close To Midnight has produced a 2-year-old colt by I Am Invincible, a yearling filly by the G1 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside and was not served last spring.
Close To Midnight was a $200,000 purchase by Malua Bloodstock Pty Ltd from the draft of Rosemont Stud at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
King West (Kingman {GB}) won nicely, he settled in an on-speed position and was strong at the finish.
Sweet Justice (Justify {USA}) only ran seventh on debut, but her effort wasn't bad. She was doing her best work through the line and it appears more ground will be of assistance.
Gas Brigade (Alabama Express) ran a solid third, he raced on pace, fought on strongly and wasn't beaten far in the end.
