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 runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Tuesday including a well-bred I Am Invincible gelding chasing maiden success at Moruya and a well-bred So You Think (NZ) 3-year-old colt looks to win his maiden at Wodonga.
Bet365 Park Wodonga, Race 5, 3pm AEST, GJ Gardner Homes Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1590m
Opening Address (NZ), 3-year-old colt (So You Think {NZ} x Royal Welcome {GB} {Kingman {GB}})
The Liam Howley-trained Opening Address (NZ) will have his second start at Wodonga over 1590 metres. On debut he ran a solid fourth at Cranbourne where he held his ground well in running over 1400 metres behind Statuario (D’Argento), he should have improved with that experience and should prove hard to beat second-up.
The promising colt is the first foal from the Kingman (GB) mare Royal Welcome (GB), who was placed on the track in Great Britain.
Opening Address (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
There is a lot of depth to this female family with Royal Welcome being a half-sister to Haddaf (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) who was a nine-time winner in Great Britain and Spain including in the Listed Sandown Scurry S., Lamar (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was successful in the Listed Fleur de Lys S., and another half-sister Cloudbreaker (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was Listed placed at Newmarket.
Since producing Opening Address, Royal Welcome has produced a 2-year-old colt by Almanzor (Fr) who was interestingly purchased by the same connections as Opening Address, a yearling colt by Circus Maximus (Ire) and was due to foal to Windsor Park Stud’s exciting young son of Deep Impact (Jpn) in Profondo this month.
Opening Address was a $160,000 purchase by Liam Howley Racing/Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA)/Bevan Smith Bloodstock from the draft of Windsor Park Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Moruya, Race 2, 1.35pm AEST, Onecall Steel & Form Mdn Plate, $27,000, 920m
Commandoro, 4-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Rose Of Sharon {Encosta De Lago})
The Moruya-based trainer Michael Gatty will prepare the well-bred gelding Commandoro to make his fifth start on his home track on Tuesday, after showing some reasonable form when trained in Queensland. He ran a tidy fourth on debut and another fourth at Doomben at the end of last year. He has since changed trainers and run well on this track on August 30 when running a narrow second behind Asuriito (Brazen Beau) over 930 metres.
Commandoro has a very handy pedigree, he is by Australian’s Champion sire I Am Invincible out of the Encosta De Lago mare Rose Of Sharon. She was a handy filly on the track winning over 1250 metres and managing placings in the Listed James Carr S., Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and the G1 Queensland Oaks.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Rose Of Sharon has made a good start to her stud career, already having left four-winners. Time Is Precious (Snitzel) was a winner as a juvenile as well as managing placings in the G3 Magic Night S., Listed Very Special Kids Plate and the G3 Schweppervescence H. Her other winners were More Than A Rose (More Than Ready {USA}), Pierro Rose (Pierro) and Farranfore (Fastnet Rock).
Commandoro’s grandam Rose Reward (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) was a three-time winner and a black-type performer with the highlight of her career being placed in the G1 Thousand Guineas. As a broodmare she left the classy-performer Lotteria (Redoute’s Choice) she was an eight-time winner including the G1 Myer Classic, G1 Flight S., G2 Surrond S., G2 Shannon S., G3 Spring S. and the Listed Show County H., she was also Group 1-placed in the W.S Cox Plate, and the Arrowfield Stud S. and the Epsom H. She has also left six individual winners as a broodmare.
Since producing Commandoro, Rose Of Sharon has produced a yearling filly by Exceedance before retiring from stud.
Looking Back
Emerald Fury (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) was disappointing running a well beaten sixth on the Awapuni Synthetic Track.
Pietro Road (I Am Invincible) ran a great race for second, he charged home from well back in the field. He looks like he has plenty of potential.
Mougenot (I Am Invincible) was unfortunately late scratched, he will keep for another day.
