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 Australia on Wednesday, on the Randwick-Kensington track a well-bred Dundeel (NZ) gelding debuts against an I Am Invincible colt that has very solid form and looks hard to beat. At Sale a Dundeel colt that descends from the blue-hen mare, Procrastinate (USA) makes his second start.
Randwick-Kensington, Race 1, 1.25pm AEST, Anamoe @ Darley 3YO Mdn H., $60,000, 1300m
California Bay, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel (NZ) x Zara Bay {Fastnet Rock})
The Peter Snowden-trained California Bay will make his debut over 1300 metres on the Randwick-Kensington track on Wednesday on the back of showing very good form at the trials. He has had two trials in total, placing second at his first one behind Hurtsville Zagreb (Divine Prophet) at Randwick on August 19, then he won impressively at Randwick on August 30 over 1045 metres when defeating the well bred Chiba (Exceed And Excel).
California Bay is the fourth foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Zara Bay, who was a 2-times winner and Listed placed on the track. She has already been a solid broodmare leaving 3 winners including the 5-time winner Saucey Horsey (So You Think {NZ}), the 5-time winner and dual Group placed Airman (I Am Invincible) and the winner Bay Of Zea (Shalaa {Ire}).
California Bay as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This family has so much depth to it and Zara Bay’s most prolific sibling is the dual hemisphere Group 1 winner and stallion Merchant Navy. Other close relations are the G1 Thousand Guineas winner in Joliestar (Zoustar), G1 winning mare Bonaria (Redoute’s Choice), G1 winning sprinting stallion Paulele, and the other stakes-winners Legally Bay (Snippets), Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock), Tessera (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), Setanta (Fastnet Rock), Hindaam (Fastnet Rock), Ebhaar (I Am Invincible) and Time Out (Snippetson).
Zara Bay since producing California Bay has left a 2-year-old colt named Fierce who was a $600,000 yearling purchase by Hawkes Racing at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and Zara Bay is due to foal to the exciting Home Affairs this month.
California Bay was a $360,000 purchase by Asian Bloodstock Services from the draft of Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale
Randwick-Kensington, Race 1, 1.25pm AEST, Anamoe @ Darley 3YO Mdn H., $60,000, 1300m
Maori Chief, 3-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Heatherly {Lonhro})
Randwick-Kensington’s Wednesday meeting is the venue for the third start of the progressive Maori Chief (I Am Invincible), who has ran two second placings in his two career starts. On debut at Newcastle on August 8 he ran well behind Bauhinia (Hellbent) and at Canterbury on August 28 it took the very promising Seascape (I Am Invincible) to narrowly beat him over 1200 metres. He looks very hard to beat in this 3-year-old maiden event.
Maori Chief is the third foal from the speedy G2 Rubiton S., winner Heatherly (Lonhro), who won six races and placed twice at Group 1 level. Her first foal, Miss Glenn (Written Tycoon) is a winner, while her second foal is the 3-year-old Group 3 winner Red Resistance, he won the G3 Canonbury S. last season and ran second to Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) in the G2 Todman S. He now stands at stud in Queensland at Telemon Stud and has started serving his first book.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park
Some other stakes-performers within the family are Tavidance (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Linton (Galileo {Ire}), Vedodara (NZ) (Kreisler {Ire}), Bhandara (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Shastri (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) and Bring Me Speed (Sebring).
The I Am Invincible/Lonhro cross has had outstanding proven success with a 86% winners to runners ratio and an impressive 18% stakes winners to runners ratio. Some of the gallopers bred on this cross include the classy filly Estriella (I Am Invincible) who has been successful at Group 3 and Listed level over sprinting trips, the talented stakes-winning Singapore gelding Super Salute and the New Zealand Listed winner Evalina.
Heatherly since producing Maori Chief has left a yearling colt by Snitzel and is due to foal to Exceed and Excel later this month.
Sale, Race 3, 2.10pm AEST, Sale Water Specialists Mdn P., $37,500, 1206m
El Paso, 3-year-old colt (Dundeel (NZ) x Almighty Girl {Beneteau})
The well-bred Dundeel (NZ) colt El Paso is set to have his second start over 1206 metres for trainer’s Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes at Sale on Wednesday. At his first start El Paso ran a very creditable close-up fifth after battling away well after being on the pace at Pakenham on April 11 over 1200 metres.
El Paso is the fourth foal out of the well-bred Beneteau mare Almighty Girl who was successful on two occasions on the track including in the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. Almighty Girl is also a half-sister to Zodiac Ruler (Zoffany {Ire}) who has been a Group 2 winner in South Africa and also managed placings in the G1 Premiers Champion S., and the G1 Cape Derby.
El Paso as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The third dam of El Paso is the legendary Jade Hunter (USA) mare Procrastinate, she was talented on the track being a Group 3 winner but excelled as a broodmare leaving five individual stakes winners. These winners were the Champion South African Sprinter Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}), Foreplay, A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), Time Thief and Personify (Galileo {Ire}). Personify also has kept up the family tradition leaving the classy G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock).
Almighty Girl has since foaled a two-year-old filly by Written Tycoon and is due to foal to Maurice (Jpn) next month.
El Paso was a $200,000 purchase by Hawkes Racing from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Bourne Identity (Pierro) won well at Tatura, he appreciated the drop in class and dominated his race from start to finish.
Mougenot (I Am Invincible) was scratched from his race, he will keep for another day.
