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 juveniles are set to hit the track for the first stakes-races for the 2-year-olds for the season on Saturday, including a well-bred Extreme Choice filly, a Zoustar full-brother to Schwarz and a promising Capitalist colt.
Royal Randwick, Race 2, 12.40pm AEST, G3 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate, $250,000, 1000m
Tuscany, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Summer Sham {Not A Single Doubt)
The well-related and flashy chestnut colt Tuscany is set to debut at Randwick over 1000 metres for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the G3 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate. He has prepared for this race with a lovely trial win on the Randwick-Kensington track over 850 metres on September 23 when defeating Tremonti (Hellbent).
Tuscany is the third live foal from the Not A Single Doubt mare Summer Sham. She was a winner of the G2 Angus Armanasco S., on the track and has had success as a broodmare already leaving Schwarz (Zoustar) who has won the G2 Missile S., G3 Hawkesbury Guineas and the Listed Amanda Elliot H. and the promising Silver Wedding (Zoustar) who has already been placed at city level from only a couple of career starts.
Summer Sham has been a real money maker at stud. Schwarz was a $1,250,000 purchase by Rosemont-Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and David Redvers Bloodstock from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Silver Wedding sold for $800,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with Cambridge Stud being the successful purchaser from the draft of Widden Stud and then Tuscany himself was a $1,550,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Tuscany as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Tuscany’s third dam is the Giant’s Causeway (USA) mare Unspoken Choice, she herself is a half-sister to the legendary Redoute’s Choice and the Group 1 winners and stallions Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors.
Tuscany holds an interesting pedigree pattern duplicating the great stallion Redoute’s Choice 3 x 3, his sire Zoustar is out of a Redoute’s Choice mare and his dam is by Not A Single Doubt, who is a son of Redoute’s Choice.
Summer Sham since producing Tuscany has left a yearling colt by Zoustar and in late August she foaled a Zoustar filly foal. Naturally with the race day and sales results, we could be guessing that she visits Widden Stud’s outstanding Zoustar once again this spring.
Royal Randwick, Race 3, 1.15pm AEST, G3 Keeneland Gimcrack S., $250,000, 1000m
Bel Merci, 2-year-old filly (Extreme Choice x Bel Mer {Bel Esprit})
Bel Merci, a daughter of Extreme Choice will be make her debut over 1000 metres at Randwick on Saturday in the G3 Keeneland Gimcrack S. She has prepared for this race with a very good second placing at the Randwick-Kensington trials on September 23 over 850 metres when narrowly beaten by her race-rival O’Ole (Ole Kirk). She had the flashing light on her with this smart strong finishing trial performance.
The sharply bred filly is the 11th foal from the Bel Esprit mare Bel Mer, who was a classy sprinter winning four times all at black-type level including in the G1 Robert Sangster S. Listed Quezette S. Listed JRA S. and the Listed Heath S.
Extreme Choice | Standing at Newgate Farm
She has proven to be a very successful broodmare and has left eight winners including the 8-time winner All Too Royal (All Too Hard) who has been a winner at Listed level, the 7-time winner Burning The Clock (Akeed Mofeed {GB}), the 5-time winner Hauraki Golf (Written Tycoon), the 9-time winner Flying One More (Onemorenomore), More Than Mum (More Than Ready {USA}), Great Southern (Husson {Arg}), Mystery Dancer (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) and Orabelle (Casino Prince) who has also proven to be handy broodmare leaving three winners and two of these have been stakes-placed including Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) and Generosity (Divine Prophet).
Bel Mer since producing Bel Merci has left a yearling colt by Farnan and missed to Extreme Choice last spring.
Flemington, Race 2, 12.55pm AEST, Listed Darley Maribyrnong Trial S., $175,000, 1000m
Gambler, 2-year-old colt (Capitalist x Flamboyant Lass {Stratum)}
The Peter Snowden-trained Gambler will travel to Flemington on Thursday to make his debut over 1000 metres in the Listed Darley Maribyrnong S.
This Capitalist colt is the fifth foal from the Stratum mare Flamboyant Lass, who was a two-time winner on the track at city level but also classy enough to place in the Listed Reginald Allen H. and the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies). She has done a very good job at stud already leaving three winners including the six-time winner and Listed-placed Nitrous-Circuit Seven (HK) (Deep Field), the three-time winner Command Approved (Spirit Of Boom) and Lovebird (I Am Invincible).
She also is a sister to Attention (Stratum) who was a two-time winner as a juvenile including the G2 Sires’ Produce S. and the G3 Schweppervescence S.
Gambler as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Further back in the family is the very talented Pasikatera (Thunder Gulch {USA}), her talented Listed-winning gelding Planet Voyage (Exceed And Excel), the dual Group 1-winning filly Tempest Morn (Thunder Gulch) and the stakes-performed Dance With Deb (Desert King {Ire}).
The extended Capitalist/Redoute’s Choice cross has had some solid success with a 79 per cent winners to runners ratio and 10 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. The top performer on the track with this cross is the seven-time winner and classy mare Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) who has won the G2 Dane Ripper S. Listed Eureka Stud Classic. and the Listed Helen Coughlan S.
Since producing Gambler, Flamboyant Lass has a yearling colt by Home Affairs and is due to foal later this month to the G1 Golden Slipper-winning Stay Inside.
Gambler was a $360,000 purchase by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Wheeper (Shalaa {Ire}) ran well for fourth on debut at the Sunshine Coast, he got caught in a bit of speed battle early, ended up leading and only faded late in the piece. He looks an improver and one to follow.
Revolver (NZ) (Proisir) ran well to place second at Warrnambool, it was an honest effort and a step up to ten furlongs and further looks like it will suit him.
