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-old runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Thursday. At Goulburn a well-bred Snitzel colt makes his second start after running well on debut and at Bendigo, Justify (USA) and Extreme Choice fillies will be looking to claim maiden success.
Goulburn, Race 6, 4.40pm AEST, Crookwell Community Trust Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1500m
Saint Emilion, 3-year-old colt (Snitzel x Kylikwong {Red Ransom {USA}})
The well-bred Saint Emilion is set to have his second start over 1500 metres for trainer Ciaron Maher at Goulburn on Thursday. He trialled up twice in preparation for his raceday debut including a fourth behind West Indies (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) at the Warwick Farm trials over 812 metres on July 26 and then he also ran seventh behind Queen Calanthe (Trapeze Artist) at the Rosehill trials over 1030 metres on August 20. On debut he put in a very good performance finishing a close-up third behind the progressive Interjection (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who has subsequently won again at Kembla Grange to add extra emphasis to this form line.
Saint Emilion is the 13th foal from the talented Kylikwong, a daughter of Red Ransom (USA). She was a winner at 1300 metres and 1600 metres and was stakes placed in the G1 VRC Oaks, G1 Australasian Oaks, G2 Kewney S. G1 Sires’ Produce S. G2 Edward Manifold S. and the G2 South Australian Oaks. She has also had some very good success as a broodmare leaving nine winners including the Listed-winning stayer Cantonese (Redoute’s Choice), and the stakes-placed Chateau Margaux (Redoute’s Choice) and Monteux (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Kylikwong is also a full sister to the outstanding sprinter/miler Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) who was the Australian Horse of the Year and was an 11-time winner including six Group 1 races, Red Element who was a dual Listed-winning sprinter and stallion and the stakes-placed Tracy’s Choice (Redoute’s Choice).
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Another close relation is Lake Superior (Encosta De Lago) who is the dam of the super iron-horse Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) who has been successful 15 times including in seven Group 1 races.
Kylikwong since producing Saint Emilion has left a yearling filly by All Too Hard and is due to foal again to All Too Hard next month. Looking to capitalise on that successful family cross that produced the classy Alligator Blood
Saint Emilion was a $200,000 purchase by Dynamic Syndications/Dean Watt Bloodstock from the draft of Westbury Stud Ltd at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 2, 2pm AEST, DMB Contracting 3YO Fillies Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1447m
Sweet Justice, 3-year-old filly (Justify {USA} x Sweet Sanette {SAf} {Jallad {USA}})
Sweet Justice, a daughter of Coolmore Stud’s classy stallion Justify, will make her second start at Geelong for trainer’s Ben, Will and JD Hayes after running a battling seventh on debut behind Miss Mahjong (Territories {Ire}) at Cranbourne on September 5 over 1300 metres.
This well-bred filly is the third foal from the Jallad (USA) mare Sweet Sanette (SAf), who was a winner eight times on the track including at Group level in South Africa and Listed level in Hong Kong.
Sweet Justice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sweet Sanette has left five individual winners on the track including Sweet Rockette (Fastnet Rock) who won at 1200 metres and was placed in the G3 Scarborough S. Her other winners were Invincible Rock (Fastnet Rock), Royal Dress (I Am Invincible), Chianti (I Am Invincible) and Fast ‘n’ Rolling (Fastnet Rock).
Sweet Justice is very well-related and has a strong American family full of black-type, some strong stallion pedigree influences that are prominent are Scat Daddy (USA), Pulpit (USA), Ghostzapper (USA), Triple Bend (USA) and Danzig (USA).
Sweet Justice sold for $160,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale with Lindsay Park Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Coolmore Stud.
Ladbrokes Geelong, Race 4, 3pm AEST, Viatek Fujifilm 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1147m
Tessa’s Choice, 3-year-old filly (Extreme Choice x Crimson Arow {Sebring})
Tessa’s Choice, a daughter of Newgate Stud Farm’s outstanding stallion Extreme Choice, will make her second start at Geelong over 1147 metres on Thursday for Cranbourne trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. On debut she ran a super race when gaining black-type when running third in the G3 Ottawa S. behind the classy and dual Group winner Eneeza (Exceed And Excel).
This well-bred filly is the fifth foal from the Sebring mare Crimson Arow who showed good preciousness and speed when was a city winner as a juvenile. This early-speed also shows through with her grandam Burning Sands (Marju {Ire}) being a dual winner as a 2-year-old including in the G3 Sweet Embrace S.
Tessa's Choice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The family page has some lovely pedigree influences including Redoute’s Choice, Hussonet (USA), Marju (Ire), More Than Ready (USA), Flying Spur, Rory’s Jester, Woodman (USA) and Last Tycoon (Ire).
Since producing Tessa’s Choice, Crimson Arow has a yearling filly by Wooded (Ire) and is due to foal next month to the Golden Slipper Winner Stay Inside.
Tessa’s Choice was a $500,000 purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Meredith Park at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Gas Brigade (Alabama Express) - was disappointing, after sitting on pace he weakened right out of it.
In the same race at Warwick Farm, Dominetta (Zoustar) was impressive leading all of the way, she looks a likely type to get even better over more ground. The well-bred Silver Wedding (Zoustar) ran a solid race for fourth, she got back in a tricky spot and once in the free she run on well for fourth. On that run she will be winning a maiden shortly.
