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 Thursday including an Impending half-sister to the classy Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) looking to win her maiden at Warrnambool and promising Written Tycoon and Exceed And Excel 3-year-olds go head-to-head on debut at Hawkesbury.
Warrnambool, Race 2, 2.30pm AEST, Tickets & Packages Available Mdn P., $37,500, 1400m
Tamahine, 4-year-old mare (Impending x Arohanui {Bianconi {USA}})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Impending mare Tamahine will travel to Warrnambool on Thursday to have her fourth start over 1400 metres on the back of three promising runs in her career so far. On debut at Ballarat she ran a solid second behind Into You (No Nay Never {USA}) earlier this year, before running an okay fifth as a warm favourite at Terang. After a break she resumed with a solid third at Bendigo on August 18 behind Captain Barbossa (Shamus Award).
Impending | Standing at Darley
Tamahine is the fifth-live foal from the Bianconi (USA) mare Arohanui, who was a two-time winner. She has proven to be a very handy broodmare leaving four-winners including the Jericho Cup and Grand National Hurdle winner in Wil John (Reset), the stakes-placed stayer Wahine Toa (Dalakhani {Ire}), three-time winner Aroha Te Mana (Von Costa de Hero) and the exciting prospect Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) who is now a 6-time winner including at Group 3 level in last seasons Doncaster Prelude.
Since producing Tamahine, Arohanui has produced an as yet-to-race Puissance De Lune (Ire) 3-year-old filly before sadly passing away.
Hawkesbury, Race 3, 2.20pm AEDT, Richmond Club CG&E Mdn P., $42,000, 1100m
Rich Tears, 3-year-old gelding (Written Tycoon x Diddums {Snitzel})
Hawkesbury’s Thursday meeting will serve as the venue for the debut for the well-bred gelding Rich Tears. He has trialled twice in preparation for this assignment including an impressive win at Warwick Farm on August 27 over 815 metres when he won nicely defeating his stablemate Apollo Ridge (Lonhro).
Rich Tears is by Yulong Stud’s outstanding Sire in Written Tycoon and he has a strong pedigree with his page full of influential international and colonial stallions including Last Tycoon (Ire), Marscay, Vain, Redoute’s Choice, Snippets, Red Ransom (USA), Rahy (USA), Kenmare (Fr) and Blushing Groom (USA).
Rich Tears as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
His dam Diddums (Snitzel) was talented and was successful 4-times including in the G3 PJ Bell S., She has made a solid start to her broodmare career leaving the 3-time winner There There ( I Am Invincible) and the dual winner Cross Your Heart (Deep Field).
Diddums is also a half-sister to the Hong Kong super star Voyage Bubble (Deep Field), so far in his career has won 6-times from 1200 metres to 2000 metres, and he has already picked up feature success in the G1 Stewards Cup, Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile and the famous Listed Hong Kong Derby.
Since producing Rich Tears, Diddums has produced a 2-year-old Zoustar filly named Stardom and is due to foal to Toronado (Ire) this month.
Rich Tears was a $200,000 purchase by Best Bloodstock Pty Ltd from the draft of Torryburn Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Hawkesbury, Race 3, 2.20pm AEDT, Richmond Club CG&E Mdn P., $42,000, 1100m
Chiba, 3-year-old colt (Exceed And Excel x Ichihara {General Nediym})
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Chiba will make his debut over 1100 metres at Hawkesbury on Thursday on the back of showing very good form at the trials. He has had four trials in total, winning one of them and placing second in the three other trials. Amongst these trials are some impressive formlines where he has run around quality horses such as Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) and the well-bred and trial performed and city placed on debut gelding in California Bay (Dundeel {NZ}).
Chiba is by Exceed And Excel and is the fifth-live foal from the General Nediym mare Ichihara, who was a speedy 6-times winner, her wins included the G2 Magic Night S., Listed Heritage S., Listed Eskimo Prince S., and the Listed Gosford Guineas . She has already been a solid broodmare leaving 3 winners including the G3 Breeders’ Plate victor in Empire Of Japan, this precocious son of Snitzel now stands at stud in Queensland at Hopetoun Farm. Her other winners include Mount Fuji (Snitzel) and Omar (Snitzel).
Chiba as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This family has so much depth to it and Ichihara’s siblings include Au Chocolat (General Nediym) who was a 5-time winner including at Listed level and Isurava (General Nediym) who was also successful at Listed level, she then went on to leave the classy sprinter and now stallion in Menari who was the victor in the G2 Fun To The Rose H., and the Listed Rosebud H.
Other close relations are the 12-time Group 1 winning superstar in Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}), his Group 1 winning dam in Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}), and the talented stakes-winners Hood (Shamardal {USA}), Dream Ballad, Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Shame On You (Cerreto {Ire}) and Wings Of Song (Mendelssohn {USA}).
Ichihara since producing Chiba has left a yearling filly by Exceed and Excel and is due to foal to Exceed And Excel again late next month.
Chiba was an expensive $1,800,000 purchase by Kia Ora Stud/TFI from the draft of Corumbene Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
California Bay (Dundeel {NZ}) and Maori Chief (I Am Invincible) both ran very well when filling the placings behind the promising Mayne (Written Tycoon), both look like they will be winning maidens very soon.
El Paso (Dundeel) may have only run seventh at Sale, but it was not a bad effort. He did not have much luck and raced in restricted room throughout. He could be one to get some good odds on next time and it wouldnt surprise if he is a big improver.
