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 2-year-old runners are set to hit the track across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. These include a debutant at Riccarton by Fierce Impact (Jpn) that won a trial by 12l and Zoustar and Written Tycoon juveniles that both descend from the blue-hen mare Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) debut at Randwick and Ellerslie respectively.
Riccarton, Race 1, 9.55am AEDT (11.55am local), Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series, $40,000, 800m
Zelia, 2-year-old filly (Fierce Impact {Jpn} x Kakariko Village {NZ} {Shooting To Win})
Zelia, a daughter of Lovatsville’s first-season sire Fierce Impact, will be making her debut at Riccarton for local trainer David Walsh after showing some very good form at the trials. She didn’t do a lot at her first trial on the Riccarton-Synthetic track on September 3 running a well-beaten fourth, but she then bolted in by 12l at Riccarton on September 14 over 800 metres defeating Quisiera (NZ) (Sweynesse) who subsequently ran second on debut behind Zelia’s race-rival Eliza James (NZ) (War Decree {USA}).
The promising filly is the second foal from the Shooting To Win mare Kakariko Village (NZ), who only raced once on the track. She however is a half-sister to Bonham (Per Incanto {USA) who was a four-time winner including in the G1 Levin Classic, she was subsequently sold for $1.6 million to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She has gone on to leave a yearling colt and a filly foal by I Am Invincible.
Fierce Impact (Jpn) | Standing at Lovatsville
The family continues to have more depth the deeper you go into the page. Zelia’s third dam is Banc De Fortune (Galileo {Ire}) she was a Listed winner and Group 1-placed on the track and left the Listed winner Eagle Island (Fastnet Rock), Banc De Fortune’s dam is Danendri (Danehill {USA}) who was a super filly winning twice at Group 1 level.
Kakariko Village since producing Zelia has left a yearling filly by Fierce Impact and foaled a colt by Bruckner last month.
Zelia was a value purchase for $11,000 by J Corcoran from the draft of Fairview Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale before being withdrawn from the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Book 2 Sale.
Ellerslie, Race 4, 11.51am AEDT (1.51pm local), Dunstan Horse Feeds, $45,000, 1100m
Belle Du Monde, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Lady Cartier {Fastnet Rock})
The well-related Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) makes her debut in the juvenile event at Ellerslie on Saturday over 1100 metres. She trialled up nicely at Matamata on October 8 over 800 metres where she was beaten by her stablemate and race-rival in Return To Conquer (Snitzel) who himself was a $1.3 million purchase and has won both of his trials and therefore looks hard to beat.
Belle Du Monde is by Zoustar out of Lady Cartier (Fastnet Rock) who is a three-quarter sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and the Listed-winning gelding Groundswell (Fastnet Rock). She is also a half-sister to the talented gelding Rustic Steel (Deep Field) who has been successful nine times including in the G3 Newcastle Newmarket H. and the Listed Scone Cup.
Belle Du Monde as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Other classy performers that feature in this pedigree are the stallions Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Echoes Of Heaven and Platinum Scissors and the talented group-winners Schwarz (Zoustar), Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt), Summer Monsoon (Stratum) and Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}),
Lady Cartier since producing Belle Du Monde has foaled a colt by Almanzor (Fr) earlier this spring.
Belle Du Monde was originally a $220,000 purchase by Kaha Nui Farm from the draft of Tyreel Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. She was then a successful pinhook when selling from the Kaha Nui Farm draft for NZ$400,000 to Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Randwick, Race 1, 12.30pm AEDT, Gow-Gates Kirkham Plate, $160,000, 1000m
Chicama, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x The Broken Shore {Hussonet {USA}})
The beautifully bred Chicama (Written Tycoon) is set to make his debut over 1000 metres at Randwick for in-form trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott on the back of a promising trial at Randwick on October 8 over 740 metres behind race-rivals Comedy (Snitzel) and The Little General (All Too Hard).
Chicama is the seventh live foal from the Hussonet (USA) mare The Broken Shore. She was a metropolitan winner at 1100 metres on the track but has left a considerable mark as a broodmare leaving the three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock), the Listed-winning gelding Groundswell (Fastnet Rock) and the winners Fjord (Fastnet Rock), Tides (Fastnet Rock) and Rapids (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Chicama as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Chicama’s second dam is the great mare Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad) she will forever have a lasting influence on the breed in Australasia as she left the Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice, the Group 1 winners and sires Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors, the Listed winner and sire Echoes Of Heaven and the talented stakes-winner and stakes-producer in Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
The Broken Shore since producing Chicama has left a Maurice (Jpn) yearling colt and was then exported to Great Britain in January this year.
China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy was the purchaser for $1,350,000 from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Pressnell (Press Statement) ran well on debut for a second placing, he had every chance, but it was a solid effort.
Pretty Cheeky (Written Tycoon) stalked the speed throughout and then drew clear late, it was a very good effort, and she took great improvement out of her debut run and won nicely at her second start.
