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 3-year-old runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Thursday. These include a well-related Grunt (NZ) gelding making his debut at Ballarat and promising Zousain filly is on debut at Hawkesbury.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Brandt 3YO Mdn Plate, $42,000, 1000m
Mount Rinjani, 3-year-old gelding (Grunt (NZ) x Molten Rock {High Chaparral {Ire}})
The Yulong Investments bred and raced Mount Rinjani (Grunt {NZ}) is set to make his debut over 1000 metres for Pakenham trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman at Ballarat on Thursday. In preparation for this race assignment he looked pretty good winning over 1000 metres at the Pakenham jump-outs on October 1 when defeating his stablemate Cosmic (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}).
Mount Rinjani is a son of Yulong Stud’s promising stallion Grunt (NZ) and is out of the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Molten Rock who was a winner at a mile on the track at Gosford.
She is very well-related being a half-sister to the handy stakes-placed Fight And Defend (Encosta De Lago). Mount Rinjani’s grandam Steamheat (USA) (Broad Brush {USA}) is a half-sister to Northern Meteor, the Group 1-winning sprinter and stallion, Queen Of The Hill (Danehill {USA)) who was successful in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. G3 How Now S. and the Listed Talindert S. and Rabbuka (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) who was a prolific winner of 16-races including in two Listed races in Sydney.
Grunt (NZ) | Standing at Yulong
Other family members include the sharp sprinter and successful stallion Smart Missile who won the G2 Todman S. G3 Run To The Rose H. Listed Breeders’ Plate, and placed in the G1 Golden Rose S. The Listed winner's Kiss From A Rose (Encosta De Lago) and Surge Ahead (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Touch Of Red (Fastnet Rock). Palaispan (So You Think {NZ}) was also the victor in the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara and the G2 Dane Ripper S.
Molten Rock since producing Mount Rinjani has left a 2-year-old by Alabama Express and was interestingly bred to Alabama Express to Northern Hemisphere time on February 2 earlier this year.
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 1.15pm AEDT, Great Northern 3YO Mdn H., $42,000, 1000m
Tasman Bay, 3-year-old filly (Zousain x Thrill (NZ) {Flying Spur})
Tasman Bay, a daughter of Widden Stud’s promising stallion Zousain, will be making her debut at Hawkesbury for Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker on Thursday. In preparation for this assignment she has trialled three times and managed to run third in her last one behind Foursomes (Russian Revolution) at Rosehill on October 4 over 900 metres.
Tasman Bay is the fifth foal from the Flying Spur mare Thrill (NZ), who was a winner in New Zealand as a juvenile. Thrill herself was an expensive yearling costing $400,000 to the bid of the very good judge Mr GE Harding at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
She has made a promising start at stud leaving three individual winners including the 4-time winner Twig (Shooting To Win), the dual winner Hillaby (Shooting To Win) and the $625,000 purchase Golden Estrella (Zoustar) who has shown good promise having won twice already in her career so far.
Tasman Bay as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She is very well-related being a half-sister to Star Of The Seas (Ocean Park {NZ}) who was an eight-time winner and his wins included the G2 Blamey S. and the G3 Maurice McCarten H. he also managed placings in the G1 Doncaster H. G1 Winx S. G1 George Main S. G1 Epsom H. and the G2 Tramway S. Another half-brother is Spieth (NZ) who also was a stakes-winner in the Listed City Tatt’s Lightning H. and managed close placings in the G1 Darley C. and the G1 Lightning S. before embarking on a stud career that was unfortunately short lived after passing away after only four crops.
Thrill since producing Tasman Bay has left a 2-year-old by Zousain named La Roux, a yearling colt by Trapeze Artist and is due to foal to Widden Stud’s young promising sire Jacquinot.
Tasman Bay was a $400,000 purchase by Curran Bloodstock at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud.
Looking Back
Jimmy Recard (I Am Invincible) ran a moderate race on debut in stakes grade running eighth, it probably was a better run than it looked and he should improve with the run.
Socrazyinlove (I Am Invincible) was unfortunately scratched, she will keep for another day.
Manos (Snitzel) was impressive winning at Warwick Farm, he produced a solid on-pace performance and could go on with it.
