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 Australia on Thursday. At Ballarat an Extreme Choice filly that has already been Group-placed looks to win her debut and at Kembla Grange, two well-bred 3-year-olds by Exceed And Excel and Zoustar are chasing maiden success.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 1, 12.55pm AEST, Hewitt and Whitty Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1200m
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 Ballarat over 1200 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 this 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.
Kembla Grange, Race 4, 2.50pm AEST, Little Gong Beer Garden Powered By Carlton 3.5 @ The Gong Raceday CG&E Mdn H., $42,000, 1200m
Chiba, 3-year-old colt (Exceed And Excel x Ichihara {General Nediym})
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Chiba will make his second start over 1200 metres at Kembla Grange on Thursday on the back of a solid debut performance at Hawkesbury when running third behind Livin’ Thing (Yes Yes Yes) on September 12 over 1100 metres when he only faded late in the piece.
Chiba is by Exceed And Excel and is the fifth live foal from the General Nediym mare Ichihara, who was a speedy six-time winner, her wins included the G2 Magic Night S., Listed Heritage S., Listed Eskimo Prince S., and the Listed Gosford Guineas. She has already been a solid broodmare leaving three winners including the G3 Breeders’ Plate victor in Empire Of Japan, this precocious son of Snitzel now stands at stud in Queensland at Hopetoun Farm. Her other winners include Mount Fuji (Snitzel) and Omar (Snitzel).
Chiba as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This family has so much depth to it and Ichihara’s siblings include Au Chocolat (General Nediym) who was a five-time winner including at Listed level and Isurava (General Nediym) who was also successful at Listed level, she then went on to leave the classy sprinter and now stallion in Menari who was the victor in the G2 Run To The Rose H. and the Listed Rosebud H.
Other close relations are the 12-time Group 1-winning superstar in Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}), his Group 1-winning dam in Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}), and the talented stakes winners Hood (Shamardal {USA}), Dream Ballad, Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Shame On You (Cerreto {Ire}) and Wings Of Song (Mendelssohn {USA}).
Ichihara since producing Chiba has left a yearling filly by Exceed and Excel and is due to foal to Exceed And Excel again late next month.
Chiba was an expensive $1,800,000 purchase by Kia Ora Stud/TFI from the draft of Corumbene Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 5, 3.25pm AEST, Elite Sand & Soil F&M Mdn H., $42,000, 1200m
Idolised, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Personalised {Snitzel})
The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Zoustar filly Idolised will be making her second start at Kembla Grange on Thursday over 1200 metres. On debut she run third behind The Deal (Dundeel {NZ}) on the same course and distance on September 14.
This well-bred filly is the third foal out of the Snitzel mare Personalised, who was a four-time winner from 1100 metres to 1600 metres in Queensland. She is very well-related being out of Personify (Galileo {Ire}) who was successful at Listed level and has kept up the strong female family tradition leaving the G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock).
Idolised as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The third dam of Idolised is the Jade Hunter (USA) blue hen mare Procrastinate, she was talented on the track being a Group 3 winner but excelled as a broodmare leaving 12 winners including five individual stakes winners. These stakes winners were the Champion South African Sprinter Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}), Foreplay, A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), Time Thief, As Time Goes By (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Ballack (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Almighty Girl (Beneteau).
Personalised has since left a yearling colt by I Am Invincible and is due to foal to Toronado (Ire) late this month.
Idolised was a $800,000 purchase by Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Musk Creek Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Anyone (I Am Invincible) was unlucky on debut, she was slow out and then when she was starting to attack the line strongly she was blocked for a run late in the race. It really was a 'forget' run and she is one to follow especially over longer distances.
The Muffin Man (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was good on debut at Cranbourne, he was on-pace throughout and battled away strongly finishing a solid third.
Misting (Cosmic Force) won very impressively at Eagle Farm, she settled well back, ran on strongly and won with plenty in hand. Misting's trainer David Vandyke interestingly suggested that a long range target could be the inaugural running of 'The Kiwi' at Ellerslie in March.
