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 runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Sunday. These include a Spirit Of Boom 2-year-old colt looking to win his maiden on the Sunshine Coast and a well-bred The Autumn Sun gelding is chasing deserved maiden success at Horsham.
Sunshine Coast, Race 2, 2.15pm AEDT (1.15pm local), RAWCS QTIS 2YO Mdn Plate, $55,000, 1200m
Luva Flutta, 2-year-old colt (Spirit Of Boom x Goodlookin Gambler {Johannesburg {USA}})
Sunshine Coast’s Sunday meeting will serve as the venue for the second start of the promising colt Luva Flutta, a sharply-bred son of Spirit Of Boom from the Stuart Kendrick stable. He looked like he had his fair share of talent when he made his debut at Doomben on October 5 when running a nice third behind Betterlucknexttime (Zousain).
Luva Flutta is the 10th foal out of Goodlookin Gambler (Johannesburg {USA}). She was a winner at 1000 metres and has since proven to be a very handy producer. She has left six winners with the best of these being Perudo (Spirit Of Boom) who was a dual winner as a juvenile including in the Listed Bill Carter S. Her other winners include Redsson (Red Dazzler), Blackjack Book (Spirit Of Boom), The Hussler (Captain Sonador), Excalibrator (Hinchinbrook) and Miss Clicquot (Spirit Of Boom).
Luva Flutta as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Goodlookin Gambler has some solid blood within her pedigree, most notably being a half-sister to the outstanding Scenic Peak (Scenic {Ire}) who was a 12-time winner and his major wins included the G1 Emirates S. in track record time, G3 Yallambee Stud S. twice, G3 Bobbie Lewis H. and the Listed Glasshouse H.
Luva Flutta was a $80,000 purchase by Kendrick Racing from the draft of Eureka Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Horsham, Race 1, 1.35pm AEDT, Bet365 Mdn Plate, $50,000, 1400m
Command Order (NZ), 4-year-old gelding (The Autumn Sun x Skye Rose {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
Horsham will serve as the venue for the fourth start in the career of Command Order (NZ), a well-bred son of The Autumn Sun from the Liam Howley stable. Command Order has performed well in all of his starts so far and looks ready to break his maiden status. The best of these runs was probably last start when he ran a narrow third behind Here Comes Johnnie (Pierro) at Sale on October 9 over 1423 metres.
Command Order is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Skye Rose (NZ). She only raced twice on the track but holds a strong pedigree page. She is a full sister to Shamexpress (NZ) and a three-quarter sister to O’Reilly Rose (NZ) (O'Reilly).
Command Order (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Shamexpress was a very classy sprinter-winning the G1 Newmarket H. as a 3-year-old and also running in the top four of the G1 VRC Sprint Classic., G1 Lightning S., G1 Coolmore Stud S., G1 Newmarket H. and the G1 All Aged S. He has then gone on to be a successful stallion at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand so far leaving 13 individual stakes winners. O’Reilly Rose was also a nine-time winner including in the G3 White Robe Lodge H. Listed Dunedin Guineas, Listed Stanley Group Stakes and the Listed Southland Guineas.
The extended sons of Redoute’s Choice/O’Reilly cross has had great proven success with stallions such as Snitzel, Not A Single Doubt and Stratum having very good success with O’Reilly mares. This gives reason to think that the The Autumn Sun/O’Reilly cross could prove to be lucrative with that lethal duplication of the great mare Best In Show (USA).
Skye Rose, since producing Command Order has left a 3-year-old filly by Super Seth, a 2-year-old filly by Savabeel, a yearling filly by Noverre (NZ) and was due to foal to Satono Aladdin (Jpn) this spring.
Looking Back
Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) ran a great race for third at Caulfield, just being outfinishrd late. It was a great effort by him, especially being a maiden and being beat by two runners that had both already won maidens and been city placed. He is one to watch.
Little Thief (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) ran an eye-catching race for fourth at Ellerslie, he ran on very strongly from a midfield position. He is able to drop back in grade to a maiden and if so, should be winning soon.
Discreetly Blue (Blue Point {Ire}) disappointed at Morphettville, the change in tactics in going forward looked to back-fire and he dropped out after racing on speed without cover.
