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. These include a Savabeel filly chasing maiden success at Taupo, a well-bred Written Tycoon filly looks ready to win at Cranbourne and a Justify (USA) gelding out of the talented Champagne Cuddles debuts on the Sunshine Coast.
Taupo, Race 10, 3.27pm, AEDT (5.27pm local) Cup Day Packages On Sale Today Mdn., $18,500, 1300m
Smart Love (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Savabeel x Relentless Desire {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Smart Love (NZ) will have her second start over 1300 metres at Taupo on Friday on the back of a very nice debut run for second on the same track on September 20 when she was nosed out by the very promising Sexy And I Moet (Pierro). This form looks outstanding as Sexy And I Moet bolted in a 3-year-old event at Tauranga over the weekend when defeating the talented stakes winner Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).
Smart Love is the third foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Relentless Desire (NZ), who only raced once on the track. She has so far left one winner in Incessant-Bucephalas (HK) (NZ) (Savabeel) who was placed at city level in Sydney and was successful at the Sunshine Coast before being exported to Hong Kong.
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
Relentless Desire is very well-related being a half-sister to the nine-time winner Metal Bender (NZ) (Keeper), he was successful in the G1 Randwick Guineas, G1 George Ryder S. G1 Doomben Cup and the G1 Rosehill Guineas. Another half-sister is the stakes-placed Southern Venture (NZ) (Zabeel) who also as a producer went on to leave 10 individual winners.
This family has so much depth to it and it includes the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner in Amarelinha (Savabeel), the Group-winning stallions North Pacific and Sweet Ride and the classy Missybeel (NZ) (Savabeel),
The Savabeel/O’Reilly cross has had outstanding success with 172 individual winners at a 74 per cent winners to runners ratio, and an impressive 33 stakes-winners, 9 individual Group 1 winners and a 14 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. The headline acts with this cross include the Group 1 winners Orchestral (NZ), Embellish (NZ), Costume (NZ), Diademe (NZ), Savaria (NZ), Mo’unga (NZ), Major Beel (NZ), The Perfect Pink (NZ) and Amarelinha (NZ).
Relentless Desire, since producing Smart Love, unfortunately missed to Savabeel two seasons in a row but was due to foal to Noverre (NZ) in August of this year.
Cranbourne, Race 4, 7.15pm AEDT, Highview Accounting & Financial Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1300m
Regal Tycoon, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Quiet Kitten {USA} {Kitten’s Joy {USA}})
The Mornington based-trainer John McArdle saddles up Regal Tycoon (Written Tycoon) to have her third start over 1300 metres at Cranbourne on Friday. She has run two great races in her career so far including a close-up third behind Close To Midnight (I Am Invincible) at Mornington over 1000 metres on September 6 and then ran a very good second at Benalla again just missing narrowly behind Wild Pharaoh (American Pharoah {USA}) on September 27 over 1206 metres.
This promising filly is the third foal from the Kitten’s Joy (USA) mare Quiet Kitten (USA) who was a 7-time winner on the track in America and was stakes-placed 3-times. She has made a promising start to her stud career leaving Regal Zeus (Zoustar) who has been a 5-time winner in Melbourne from 1100 metres to 1700 metres.
Regal Tycoon as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Quiet Kitten is very well-related being a sister to Famous Alice (USA) (Kitten’s Joy) who was a 3-time winner in America and Group and Listed placed. Further emphasising her strong international pedigree is the fact she is a half-sister to five individual stakes-winners in Venezuela including Rod Hendrick (Ven) (Roger Rocket {USA}), Successfully (Ven) (League Of Nations {USA}), Ping Pong (Roger Rocket), Endrygol (Ven) (Evolutionist {USA}) and Piacenza (Ven) (League Of Nations).
Quiet Kitten since producing Regal Tycoon has left a 2-year-old colt by Street Boss (USA) and a yearling filly by Zoustar.
Regal Tycoon was purchased by Regal Bloodstock/Bluegrass Bloodstock FBAA/Redgum Racing from the draft of Edinburgh Park for $250,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sunshine Coast, Race 3, 7.25pm, AEDT (6.25pm local) Jeff Frazer QTIS 3YO CG&E Mdn H., $30,000, 1000m
French Empire, 3-year-old gelding (Justify (USA) x Champagne Cuddles {Not A Single Doubt})
The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained French Empire will make his debut over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast on Friday on the back of three educational trials. At his last one he ran a sound second at Doomben behind Soul Pursuit (Pride Of Dubai) on September 24 over 1000 metres.
French Empire is the first foal from the Not A Single Doubt mare Champagne Cuddles, who was a speedy 4-time winner, her wins included the G2 Breeders Classic and the G3 Gold Coast Guineas. She also managed placings in the G1 Golden Rose, G1 Flight S. G1 Stradbroke H. and the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.
This family has so much depth to it, French Empire’s grandam Sky Cuddle (Snippets) was also a very good race mare. She was a 6-time winner from 1200 metres to 1600 metres including in the G1 Emirates S., G2 Rose Of Kingston S., and the G3 Spring S.
French Empire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Other stakes horses within this outstanding page are Fast Clip (Snippetson), Undeniably (Fastnet Rock), Hint (Reset), Amor Victorious (Caravaggio {USA}), Sky Command (Deep Field), A Lot More Love (Sebring), Sky Love (Octagonal {NZ}), Violate (Sebring) and Highly Recommended.
Champagne Cuddles sold at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and fetched $2 million to the bid of Tom Magnier. Since producing French Empire, she has left a 2-year-old filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) named Bottles Of Shells and has since been exported to America to go and visit Justify (USA).
French Empire was purchased from the Coolmore Stud draft for $700,000 to Kia Ora Stud/TFI/Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Twin Island (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) ran a solid enough sixth on debut, she had a good run about midfield throughout but was a bit green running about in the home straight. She battled on okay and will improve with the run.
Idolised (Zoustar) won well at Hawkesbury, she ended up in a lovely spot after jumping from a wide barrier and fought best in the straight to win narrowly. A very valuable and well-bred filly that now has a win on her record.
Hardhead (All Too Hard) disappointed at Orange running eighth, he sat on pace and weakened out of the race.
