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 New Zealand and Australia on Friday. At Scone a Per Incanto (USA) half-sister to Lost And Running (NZ) hunts a maiden win. At Benalla a well-bred Dundeel (NZ) colt looks to win his maiden and at Taupo we have a Snitzel half-sister to Estriella that has strong form and looks ready to win her maiden.
Scone, Race 6, 3.55pm AEST, Richard Crookes Construction Super Mdn H., $50,000, 1100m
Paruna (NZ), 4-year-old mare (Per Incanto {USA} x Dreamlife {NZ} {Danroad})
Paruna (NZ), a daughter of Little Avondale’s stallion Per Incanto (USA), will make her fourth start over 1100 metres on her new home track for Scone trainer Brett Cavanough on Friday Her form doesn't look great on face value from her previous three starts, but the change in stable and drop back in class should suit her.
The Kia Ora Stud-owned filly is the third foal from the Danroad mare Dreamlife (NZ), who only raced three times being unplaced. Dreamlife’s first foal and only other foal to race is the high-quality sprinter Lost And Running (NZ), he won over $4 million on the track and his wins included the G2 Premiere S., G3 Southern Cross S. and the Listed Luskin Star S.
Paruna (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Dreamlife has a 2-year-old colt by Per Incanto still to run for her, and further back in the pedigree are the stakes-performers Kaonic (NZ) (Savabeel), A Chance To Dream (Volksraad {GB}), Fast Love (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) and Kiss Me Ketut (NZ) (Danroad).
Paruna was a $340,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Bet365 Benella, Race 3, 1.40pm AEST, Benella Timber Products Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1606m
El Paso, 3-year-old colt (Dundeel (NZ) x Almighty Girl {Beneteau})
The well-related Dundeel (NZ) colt El Paso is set to have his third start over 1606 metres for trainer’s Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes at Benalla on Friday. 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 meres and then at Sale he was a bit unlucky when not really getting a lot of clear running when finishing seventh. That run was much better than it looked and he could have a decent chance here at good odds.
El Paso is the fourth foal out of the classy Beneteau mare Almighty Girl who was successful on two occasions on the track including 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 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 G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock).
Almighty Girl has since foaled a 2-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.
Te Rapa, Race 2, 10.56am, AEST (12.56pm local), NZB Mega Mdn Series, $25,000, 1200m
Love Poem, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Madrigals {Lonhro})
The well-bred Snitzel filly Love Poem is set to have her fourth start over 1200 metres for trainer Stephen Marsh at Te Rapa on Friday. She placed in all of her starts in her first preparation at stakes-level behind classy horses such as Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) and Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) so she looks well-placed in this maiden contest.
Love Poem is out of the Lonhro mare Madrigals. She only raced once but is very well-bred being out of a full sister to the Champion Pierro, he saluted the judge 11 times including in the G1 Golden Slipper S. G1 Sires’ Produce S. G1 Champagne S. G1 Canterbury S. and the G1 George Ryder S.
Love Poem as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Adding to her pedigree is the fact Love Poem is a half-sister to one of the current sprinting stars in Estriella (I Am Invincible) who has won four races including the G3 Peter le Grand S., and the Listed Sunlight Classic. and recently run a solid fourth in Group 1-level in the Moir S.
Madrigals since producing Love Poem has left a yearling colt by The Autumn Sun and was due to foal to Maurice (Jpn) late last month.
Love Poem was a $280,000 purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud from the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Sweet Justice (Justify {USA}) was impressive winning at Geelong, she made quick improvement from her debut run and looks a promising filly especially when she gets over more ground.
Tessa's Choice (Extreme Choice) and Saint Emilion (Snitzel) were both unfortunately scratched, they will both keep for another day.
