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 Saturday. These include a promising Dundeel (NZ) colt resuming at Ellerslie, a promising Ardrossan gelding looks to break his maiden at Caulfield and a Blue Point (Ire) gelding is chasing Listed success at Morphettville.
Ellerslie, Race 5, 1.54pm AEDT (3.54pm local), NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series 3YO, $55,000, 1200m
Little Thief (NZ), 3-year-old colt (Dundeel {NZ} x Stolen Gem {Snitzel})
The well-related Little Thief (NZ) is set to have his third start over 1200 metres for trainer Chad Ormsby at Ellerslie on Saturday. On debut he ran a slashing race at Matamata on February 29 when he ran on strongly for fourth from back in the field behind Altari (NZ) (Savabeel). After having a break and changing trainer he has trialled quite nicely at Ellerslie and Te Rapa leading up to this race assignment.
Little Thief is a son of Arrowfield Stud’s sire Dundeel and is the second foal from Stolen Gem (Snitzel). She was a winner on the track as a juvenile in New Zealand and is out of the very quick mare De Lightning Ridge (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) she was a six-time winner and won the G2 Challenge S. at Randwick in track record time. She has left three individual winners including Stolen Gem herself.
Little Thief (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Stolen Gem has made a promising start to her broodmare career with her talented son To Catch A Thief (US Navy Flag {USA}) being a very talented galloper, he has been stakes-placed six times and at his last start celebrated maiden success at Matamata.
Stolen Gem since producing Little Thief has left a 2-year-old filly by Savabeel named Let Lily Loose (Savabeel), a yearling colt by Ribchester (Ire) and was not served last spring.
Caulfield, Race 1, 12.15pm AEDT, Lamaro’s Hotel Plate, $150,000, 1400m
Taken (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Ardrossan x Katherine Wright {NZ} {Henrythenavigator {USA}})
Cranbourne trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will prepare the promising gelding Taken (NZ) to make his third start at Caulfield on Saturday over 1400 metres. He run well on debut at Geelong when running a close-up third on September 13 behind Armauer (Hellbent) over 1240 metres and then backed that up with a very good and unlucky second at Moonee Valley on October 4 over 1200 metres behind Brandjam (Alabama Express) when he didn't get clear running until late in the race.
Taken is by Waikato Stud’s promising sire Ardrossan and is out of the Henrythenavigator (USA) mare Katherine Wright (NZ), she was unraced on the track but is a half-sister to Pwerfect (Pentire {GB}) who at stud has left Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan) who was successful in the Listed Phelan Ready S. and run a creditable seventh in the Listed Karaka Millions 2YO C. and also Toretto (NZ) who placed in New Zealand's first juvenile race at Wanganui earlier this season. Both of these talented gallopers are by Ardrossan making them both three-quarter-brothers to Taken.
Ardrossan | Standing at Waikato Stud
The family is a little quiet of black type up close in the page but there are some lovely stallion influences within the page including Redoute’s Choice, Canny Lad, Last Tycoon (Ire), Kingmambo (USA), Sadler’s Wells (USA), Montjeu (Ire), Nureyev (USA) and Irish River (Fr).
Katherine Wright since producing Taken has produced a 2-year-old colt by Ardrossan, a yearling filly by Ardrossan and is due to foal again to Ardrossan later this month.
Morphettville, Race 3, 2.11pm AEDT (1.41pm local), Listed Sportsbet Hill Smith S., $120,000, 1800m
Discreetly Blue, 3-year-old gelding (Blue Point {Ire} x Serenely Discreet {Exceed And Excel})
Trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray’s promising Blue Point (Ire) 3-year-old gelding Discreetly Blue heads to Morphettville on Saturday to run in the Listed Sportsbet Hill Smith S. over 1800 metres where he will be ridden by Todd Pannell.
He has showed plenty of promise in his three career starts so far, running two very good close-up thirds at Morphettville on August 31 behind Duchess Of Sussex (Hellbent) and at Balaklava on September 11 behind Wild Winner (Highland Reel {Ire}). Last start he struggled from back in the field behind the very talented Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in the G2 Stutt S.
Blue Point (Ire) | Standing at Darley
This is the famed ‘Discreet’ family of South Australian breeder David Peacock with Discreetly Blue’s dam Serenely Discreet (Exceed And Excel) winning 3-races including the G2 Edward Manifold S. Discreetly Blue is her third live foal, and the first two are both dual winners, being Perito Moreno (Frosted {USA}) and Soames (Lonhro).
Serenely Discreet’s dam is dual Listed winner of 7-races I’m Discreet (Elusive Quality {USA}) who is a half-sister to Listed winners Very Discreet (Exceed And Excel) and Forever Discreet (Bernardini {USA}). Serenely Discreet’s grandam is Group 3 winner She’s Discreet and this is the family of Group 1 winner Maybe Discreet (Shamardal {USA}).
Serenely Discreet since producing Discreetly Blue has produced a yearling filly by Palace Pier (GB) and has most recently foaled a filly foal by the exciting staying prospect Ghaiyyath (Ire) in August.
Looking Back
Flame Of Hestia (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was impressive winning at Taree, she led all of the way and was dominant.
King Of Enterprise (NZ) (Impending) won well, he was a bit green and doing things wrong but was strong late. In the same race Bring Forth (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) ran a very solid second, he was well back in running and didn't look to be travelling that well, but his last furlong he really attacked the line powerfully. Both these horses look like they could become handy 3-year-olds over a mile and further.
