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 New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. These include an Ardrossan 2-year-old filly making her debut at Wanganui, a very well-bred Zoustar filly lines up at Newcastle and an expensive Snitzel colt looks to break through at start number three also at Newcastle.
Wanganui, Race 1, 10.15am AEST (12.15pm local), Pilet Contracting Ltd/Pioneer Seeds 2YO, $40,000, 800m
Almakeitgood (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Ardrossan x Cortado {NZ} {Sepoy})
Almakeitgood (NZ), a daughter of Waikato Stud’s promising stallion Ardrossan, will make her debut at Wanganui over 800 metres on Saturday for New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock. This sharply bred filly is the third and last foal from the Sepoy mare Cortado (NZ).
Cortado was a winner as a juvenile and also showed good preciousness and speed when she managed to place in the Listed Ryder S. as a 2-year-old. This sharpness continues on in the family as Harb (NZ) who was a four-time winner including twice as a juvenile including the Listed Oaklands Plate and Cortado has already left a juvenile winner in Maracatu (NZ) (Ardrossan) who was successful at Te Rapa.
Almakeitgood (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The family page is a little quiet up close in regards to stakes horses but has some lovely pedigree influences throughout including Redoute’s Choice, Last Tycoon (Ire), Elusive Quality (USA), Danehill (USA), Nassipour (USA) and Night Shift (USA).
Almakeitgood was a $90,000 purchase by SA Sharrock from the draft of Elsdon Park at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Newcastle, Race 3, 1.55pm AEST, Dailey Family Funerals/Minervini Racing Midway Mdn Plate, $45,000, 900m
Zoubaby, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Magnaflight {Magnus})
The well-bred Zoubaby, is set to make her fourth start over 900 metres for Rosehill trainers Richard and Will Freedman at Newcastle on Saturday.
Zoubaby’s form is much better than it appears on face value, she has run fourth in city grade behind the subsequent Listed winner and very exciting Clean Energy (Zoustar) and another fourth in Listed company at Scone behind Lazzura (Snitzel). That form looks even stronger now with Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) twice running placings behind Clean Energy before breaking her maiden last weekend in the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality H.
To prepare herself for this assignment, Zoubaby won a trial at Rosehill on September 5 over 900 metres defeating Writty (Written Tycoon).
Zoubaby as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Zoubaby is the first foal from Magnaflight (Magnus). She was a winner at 1200 metres and is out of the five-time winner Snow Flight (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) who has produced six winners including the talented sprinter Viddora (I Am Invincible), she won nine times on the track including the G1 AJ Moir S. and the G1 Winterbottom S. Her other winners include Relentless Me (Statue Of Liberty {USA}), Snowplough (Fiorente {Ire}), Shadow Chaser (Super One) and Jump’n Fly (I Am Invincible)
Magnaflight since producing Zoubaby has left a 2-year-old filly by Ole Kirk, a yearling filly by Hellbent and unfortunately missed to Extreme Choice last spring.
Zoubaby was a $300,000 purchase by Avenue Bloodstock and Richard and Will Freedman from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Newcastle, Race 4, 2.30pm AEST, Insight Building Services Super CG&E Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1250m
Leconfield, 3-year-old colt (Snitzel x Tavarnelle {Zabeel {NZ}})
The well-bred Leconfield is gearing up for his third start over 1250 metres under trainer Chris Waller at Newcastle. In his debut on May 8 at Warwick Farm, he finished fourth, making good late progress behind the talented Emirate (Extreme Choice) over 1000 metres. He followed that performance with another solid fourth, closing ground behind Aemelius (Hellbent), who has since placed at Listed level.
Leconfield is a son of Arrowfield Stud’s star stallion Snitzel and is out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Tavarnelle. She was a three-time winner at 1400 and 1550 metres including the G3 Frances Tressady S. and placing in the G3 Tesio S.
Tavarnelle has started her stud career off in great fashion having already left three individual winners. The best of these has been Tuscan Queen (Fastnet Rock) she was the victor in the G2 West Australian Derby, G3 West Australian Oaks, G3 Champion Fillies S and the Listed Natasha S. Her other winners include Justice Glory (Fastnet Rock) and Lacazette (Fastnet Rock).
Leconfield as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Snitzel/Zabeel cross has also had great proven success with a 69 per cent winners to runners ratio and a solid 10 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. Some of the stakes-winning gallopers on the track with this cross includes the stallions Perast and Time For War and the other stakes winners Bavella, Macroura, Lubiton and Castlereagh Kid.
Further back in the pedigree page is the Singapore Horse of the Year in Zirna (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}) and other stakes winners including Crafty Irna (Starcraft {NZ}), Flower Of Wanaka (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}), Amazing Me (NZ) (Deputy Governor), Vandalo (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}) and Snickerdoodledandy (Snitzel).
Tavarnelle, since producing Leconfield, has left a 2-year-old colt by Farnan and is due to foal to Darley Stud’s Anamoe next month.
Leconfield was an expensive purchase at the sales costing Tom Magnier $1,000,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds.
Looking Back
Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High) won well, she led all of the way and won with a bit up her sleeve. With her breeding much further looks to be her go.
Sister Cynane (I Am Invincible) ran a lovely race for second, she was ridden quiet from a bad gate and ran on very strongly from well back in the field. This expensive purchase looks like she is one to follow.
Love Poem (Snitzel) was scratched, this well-bred filly will keep for another day.
