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.
Two exciting runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Friday including a Shalaa (Ire) gelding that makes his debut at the Sunshine Coast after looking very sharp at the trials and a Proisir gelding looks ready to win his maiden at Warrnambool.
Sunshine Coast, Race 1, 5.40pm AEST, Marsh Advantage Insurance QTIS 3YO Mdn Plate, $30,000, 1200m
Wheeper, 3-year-old gelding (Shalaa {Ire} x Tears Are Falling {More Than Ready {USA}})
The Chris Anderson-trained Wheeper (Shalaa {Ire}) will make his debut over 1200 metres at the Sunshine Coast on Friday on the back of showing very good form at the trials. He has had three trials in total, winning his first two at Doomben and the Gold Coast and then placing second at his last trial. He has looked very sharp in them and looks ready to run well on debut.
Wheeper is by Shalaa (Ire) and is out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Tears Are Falling who was placed on the track as a 3-year-old.
Overall Wheeper’s family is a bit quiet up front of black-type form but there are some outstanding gallopers further down the page. These include the Group 1 winner Oohood (I Am Invincible), the dual Group 1 winner and stallion King’s Legacy, the stallions Not A Single Doubt and Zizou and the Group performers Big Parade (Deep Field), Hanky Panky (Anabaa {USA}) and Blanc De Blanc (I Am Invincible).
Wheeper as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The family page does have some lovely international stallion influences throughout including Invincible Spirit (Ire), More Than Ready (USA), Danzig (USA), Woodman (USA), Sunday Silence (USA) and Halo (USA).
Since producing Wheeper, Tears Are Falling has had a 2-year-old colt by Trapeze Artist, a yearling filly by The Autumn Sun and was due to foal to Sejardan late last month.
Wheeper was what looks like being a value $17,500 purchase by Chris Anderson Racing from the draft of Valiant Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Warrnambool, Race 3, 3pm AEST, Western District Electrical Services Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1700m
Revolver (NZ), 4-year-old gelding (Proisir x Nedjma (USA) {Royal Academy {USA}})
Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander will prepare the promising gelding 4-year-old Revolver (NZ) (Proisir) to make his second start at Warrnambool on Friday over 1700 metres.
He has trialled up well in New Zealand where he won two out of his three trials including the last one impressively on the Cambridge Synthetic beating Impressive Belle (Press Statement) by just over 2l. He obviously caught the eye of OTI Racing and his new connections as he was purchased and sent over to Australia. In Australia he has had one trial at Stawell on August 27 and ran a nice second behind Celtic Knot (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who has already been a maiden winner on the track. He then debuted nicely, running second narrowly at Bendigo on debut on September 8 behind Theophilus (Teofilo {Ire}) over the mile distance.
Revolver (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Revolver is by Rich Hill Stud’s top-class stallion Proisir out of the Royal Academy (USA) mare Nedjma (USA), she was a useful mare in America winning four races from 1600 metres up to 1800 metres and managing to be Listed-placed twice.
The family is a little quiet of black-type up close in the page but there are some lovely colonial and international stallion influences within the page including Danehill (USA), Centaine, Fairy King (USA), Lunchtime (GB), Red Ransom (USA), Northern Dancer (Can), Roberto (USA) and Encosta De Lago.
Looking Back
Tessa's Choice (Extreme Choice) was very good winning at Ballarat, it was an impressive win by this valuable filly.
Both Chiba (Exceed And Excel) and Idolised (Zoustar) were scratched at Kembla Grange due to the Heavy 10 alongside a lot of other horses.
