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-olds runners are set to hit the track at Seymour on Sunday. These include a well-bred Snitzel gelding on debut and Alabama Express and Dundeel (NZ) runners go head-to-head over the mile.
Bet365 Seymour, Race 1, 12.30pm AEDT, Go Seymour Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Snitzond, 3-year-old gelding (Snitzel x Arabian Diamond {Lonhro})
Seymour will serve as the venue for the debut of Snitzond, a well-bred son of Snitzel from the Ciaron Maher stable. Snitzond has warmed up for this assignment with a solid third at the Ararat trials on September 30 behind Magic Money (Toronado {Ire}) by 2l over 850 metres.
Snitzond is out of the Lonhro mare, Arabian Diamond. She only raced twice on the track but holds a strong pedigree page. She is a full sister to Diamond Oasis (Lonhro) who was an eight-time winning sprinter that was Listed and Group 3-placed on the track and a half-sister to Oasis Girl (Redoute’s Choice) and Siwa Lady (Gonski) who were both Listed winners on the track.
Snitzond as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Snitzel/Lonhro cross has had great proven success with an okay 58 per cent winners to runners ratio, but a very good 18 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. The best galloper with this cross has been the stallion Bruckner who was successful in the G3 McNeil S. but he also showed his class placing in the G2 Danehill S. and the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Further back in Snitzond’s pedigree page is the outstanding galloper and successful stallion Pierro, Estriella (I Am Invincible), Loch Eagle (Lonhro), Ambience (Street Cry {Ire}), Sandpaper (Snitzel) and Knight’s Tour (Reset).
Arabian Diamond, since producing Snitzond, has left a 2-year-old colt by Blue Point (Ire), a yearling colt by Bivouac and is due to foal to Pierata next month.
Bet365 Seymour, Race 4, 2.05pm AEDT, Go Nagambie Mdn Plate, $50,000, 1600m
Express Guard, 3-year-old (Alabama Express x Cerberus Gal {General Nediym})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained and Yulong Investments Ltd bred Alabama Express colt Express Guard will be having his third start at Seymour on Sunday. On debut at Echuca he ran a close-up fourth over 1415 metres on September 11 behind the promising colt Narbold (Churchill {Ire}) and at his second start he was okay again when finishing fourth behind the promising stayer in the making in Plymouth (The Autumn Sun) over 1500 metres at Bendigo on September 25.
This well-bred colt is out of the General Nediym mare Cerberus Gal, who was a three-time winner and was placed in the G2 Yallambee Classic, Listed Dermody Lightning S., G3 Spring S. and the G3 RN Irwin S.
Express Guard as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Cerberus Gal has gone on to be a very good producer leaving six individual winners. The best of these has been the talented Irukandji (Dundeel {NZ}) who was a three-time winner including in the G3 Schweppervescence H. Her other winners have been Deanna Jean (Nicconi), Wanted Trio (Wanted), Harwok’n’zoff (Zoffany {Ire}), Prized Miss (Dundeel) and Ginger’s Gal (Exceed And Excel).
Since Producing Express Guard, Cerberus Gal has produced a 2-year-old colt by Alabama Express, a yearling colt by Tagaloa and is due to foal again to Alabama Express later this month.
Bet365 Seymour, Race 4, 2.05pm AEDT, Go Nagambie Mdn Plate, $50,000, 1600m
El Paso, 3-year-old colt (Dundeel {NZ} x Almighty Girl {Beneteau})
The well-bred Dundeel colt El Paso is set to have his fourth start over 1600 metres for trainer’s Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes at Seymour on Sunday. At his first start El Paso ran a very creditable close-up fifth after battling away well after being on the pace at Pakenham on April 11 over 1200 meters, then at Sale he was a bit unlucky when not really getting a lot of clear running when finishing seventh. At his third start at Benalla on September 27 he ran well when hitting the line strongly for second over 1606 metres behind Keeneland (NZ) (Almaznor {Fr}). This form looks very strong now with Keeneland subsequently winning the Listed Super Impose S. at Flemington over 1800 metres and becoming one of the early favourites for the Victoria Derby.
El Paso is the fourth foal out of the well-bred Beneteau mare Almighty Girl who was successful on two occasions on the track including the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. Almighty Girl is also a half-sister to Zodiac Ruler (Zoffany {Ire}) who has been a Group 2 winner in South Africa and also managed placings in the G1 Premiers Champion S., and the G1 Cape Derby.
The third dam of El Paso is the Jade Hunter (USA) mare Procrastinate, she was talented on the track being a Group 3 winner but excelled as a broodmare leaving five individual stakes winners. These winners were the Champion South African Sprinter Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}), Foreplay (Danehill {USA}), A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), Time Thief and Personify (Galileo {Ire}). Personify also has kept up the family tradition leaving the G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock).
El Paso as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
El Paso has an interesting pedigree pattern, he is bred on an extended cross of the Dundeel/Redoute’s Choice pattern which the G1 Caulfield Guineas hero, and now Waikato Stud Stallion Super Seth possesses. The extended cross has also produced the G1 Doncaster H. and the G1 Randwick Guineas winner in Celestial Legend (Dundeel) as he is out of daughter of Snitzel who himself is a son of his former Arrowfield Stud barnmate Redoute’s Choice. This is similar to El Paso being out of a daughter of Beneteau who is also a son of the great Redoute’s Choice.
Almighty Girl has since foaled a 2-year-old filly by Written Tycoon and is due to foal to Maurice (Jpn) later this month.
El Paso was a $200,000 purchase by Hawkes Racing from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Vieri (Russian Revolution) disappointed running fifth.
Hiatus (Snitzel) won impressively, a nice filly with a big future.
Grinzinger Fashion (Harry Angel {Ire}) disappointed running sixth.
