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. At Riccarton a Per Incanto (USA) 2-year-old filly makes her debut, Ikasara (I Am Invincible) chases Listed glory first-up as a 3-year-old at Rosehill and a well-bred Snitzel filly debuts at Canberra.
Riccarton, Race 3, 11.23am AEST (1.23pm local), Pryde’s Easifeed - Nobby Bussell Memorial 2YO Mdn, $25,000, 800m
Melo (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Per Incanto {USA} x Mini Pearl {Black Minnaloushe {USA}})
The Robert Dennis-trained Melo (NZ) will travel to Riccarton on Saturday to make her debut over 800 metres in the hands of jockey Ashvin Goindasamy. She has not had any exposed trials so we are selecting her purely on breeding and trust.
Melo is the seventh foal from the Black Minnaloushe (USA) mare Mini Pearl (NZ), who was a versatile seven-time winner from 1400 metres to 2000 metres and her biggest win was in the Listed Manawatu Breeders’ S.
She has had four foals to race and all of them have been winners, including the dual Listed-placed Exquisite Pearl (NZ) (Power {GB}), the three-time winner Mazzuro (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and the winners Exotic Pearl (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Pearl Opulence (NZ) (Unusual Suspect {USA}).
Melo (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Mini Pearl’s dam Another Pearl (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}) was also a talented mare, she was successful four times and placed in the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ S., Listed South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and the Listed Manawatu Breeders’ S., which adds to the family’s history in the race as her daughter successfully won it in 2012.
Mini Pearl has not left another foal since producing Melo, but she is due to foal to Unusual Suspect late November.
Melo was a NZ$90,000 purchase by Robert Dennis Racing from the draft of Prima Park at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Rosehill, Race 5, 2.15pm AEST, Listed Petaluma Heritage S., $200,000, 1100m
Ikasara, 3-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Ektifaa {More Than Ready {USA}})
Ikasara, is set to make his first start as a 3-year-old over 1100 metres for Randwick trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at Rosehill on Saturday. He made quite an impact when he won his only start as a 2-year-old on the same course and distance on April 27 when defeating race rival Althoff (Written Tycoon). Since then he has had a nice break and trialled twice in preparation for this race, at his last one he looked very sharp when defeating Super Zippi (Super One) at Warwick Farm over 794 metres by just over 6l.
Ikasara is the third foal from Ektifaa (More Than Ready {USA}). She was a four-time winner in South Africa including the G2 Choice Carriers Championship and the G3 Tony Ruffel S. Ektifaa sold for $1.7 million at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to the bid of Kia Ora Stud.
Ikasara as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Further back in the family are the Group Winners Calveen (Canny Lad), Fireworks (Snitzel), Okahu Bay (Flying Spur), Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro) and Thalassophile (Not A Single Doubt).
Ektifaa since producing Ikasara has left a 2-year-old filly by Farnan named Reggie Charlie, a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and is due to foal to Exceed And Excel before the end of this month.
Ikasara was a $800,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/TFI from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Canberra, Race 3, 3.01pm AEST, OPC It Mdn Plate, $16,000, 1000m
Sagaponack, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x The Hamptons {Encosta De Lago})
The Ciaron Maher trained Sagaponack will be travelling to Canberra on Saturday to make her debut over 1000 metres. She has had plenty of educational trials in New South Wales to prepare herself for this assignment, running third behind Silver Wedding (Zoustar) at Warwick Farm on September 13 over 791 metres reads pretty well for this maiden event.
This Snitzel filly is the eighth live foal from the Encosta De Lago mare The Hamptons, who was unraced on the track. She is very well-related being a sister to Fifth Avenue Lady (Encosta De Lago) who was the winner of the G3 Matron S. and Fair Trade (Danewin) who was victorious in the G3 CS Hayes S. as well as being a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym), the Group 3 winners Miss Judgement (Strategic) and Aussies Love Sport (Redoute’s Choice).
The Hamptons has already left her mark at stud leaving four winners including the very talented Macau Sprinter/Miler in Pearl Green (Fastnet Rock) who was successful 15 times, and the other winners Rock The Bowler (Fastnet Rock), Beachhaven (Exceed And Excel) and Flotus (More Than Ready {USA}).
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The extended Snitzel/Encosta De Lago cross has also had great proven success with a 77 per cent winners to runners ratio and a solid 8 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. This cross includes three 2-year-old Group 1 winners and Stallions in Invader, Summer Passage and Sword Of State.
The Hamptons has been given every chance at stud having visited many of Australia’s top stallions and in recent years has left a 2-year-old filly by Snitzel and is due to foal to Best Of Bordeaux this month.
Sagaponack was a $250,000 purchase by Dynamic Syndications/Dean Watt Bloodstock from the draft of Westbury Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Paruna (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was scratched, she will keep for another day.
El Paso (Dundeel {NZ}) ran on strongly at Benella to run second, it was a solid run and a maiden win does not look far away.
Love Poem (Snitzel) won very impressively at Te Rapa, she looked a class above them on form and with the drop back in class she bolted in. No doubt her targets from here will be in 3-year-old stakes races.
