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 Tuesday. These include a Churchill (Ire) gelding chasing maiden success at Grafton and a Capitalist filly looks very hard to beat in a maiden event at Swan Hill.
Grafton, Race 4, 3.05pm AEDT, Grafton District Services Club Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1006m
Church Rock, 3-year-old gelding (Churchill {Ire} x Catskill Roc {Rip Van Winkle {Ire}})
The Stephen Lee-trained Churchill gelding Church Rock will be making his second start at Grafton on Tuesday over 1006 metres. On debut at Grafton on July 7 he ran a very good second over 1020 metres behind South Boambee (Super One) where he attacked the line very strongly from back in the field. After a short break he has trialled twice and ran solid placings in both of them at Ballina and Grafton.
This interestingly bred gelding is the third foal out of the Rip Van Winkle (Ire) mare Catskill Rock (NZ), who was unplaced on the track but has an interesting pedigree duplicating the legendary Galileo (Ire). He is by a son of Galileo in Churchill and then is out of a mare by a son of Galileo in Rip Van Winkle, therefore giving him a 2 x 3 duplication.
Church Rock as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
While the page is a little bit quiet of black type winners up close in the pedigree, there is plenty further down including Tristachine (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Rhythm (NZ) (Bakharoff {USA}), Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), Griff (Trapeze Artist), Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock), Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) and the stallions Acrobat, Ozzmosis and Splintex.
Catskill Rock since producing Church Rock has produced an Acrobat yearling colt and an Acrobat filly was also born in August. These matings are particularly interesting as Acrobat and Catskill Rock both descend from the same female line.
Church Rock was originally sold for $2000 to K Simms from the draft of Morning Rise Stud at the 2023 Inglis Gold Yearling Sale before changing hands again at the 2023 Inglis October (Late) Online Sale for $2750.
Swan Hill, Race 2, 2pm AEDT, Jarrod Arentz Electrical & Solar Solutions Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1600m
Southern Money, 3-year-old filly (Capitalist x Jamil’s Girl {Pride Of Dubai)
The Euroa based-trainer’s Ben, Will and JD Hayes saddle up Southern Money to make her third start over 1600 metres at Swan Hill on Tuesday. She ran third on debut at Bairnsdale behind Hot Chilli Mama (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) on September 22 and then ran a very good second at Sale on October 9 behind the classy Saint Aubins (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) over 1400 metres. The mile should be very suitable and she looks very hard to beat in this race.
This promising filly is the first and only foal from the Pride Of Dubai mare Jamil’s Girl, who was unraced on the track. Her dam Jamil (Danehill {USA}) was also unraced on the track but has had some solid success as a broodmare leaving four winners with the best of them being Ever The Same (Canny Lad) who was a 3-time winner including in the Listed PJ Bell S. Her other winners include Twin Star Rocket (Bel Esprit), Luck And Fame (Royal Academy {USA}) and Think Aloud (Northern Meteor).
Southern Money as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The family page is a little quiet up close in regards to stakes horses but there are plenty of stallions and top-class horses that feature within the page. Some of the stallions include Rubick, Manhattan Rain, Echoes Of Heaven, Niagara, Hurricane Sky, Umatilla (NZ), Hilal, Platinum Scissors and the legendary Redoute’s Choice.
Other Group winners that feature within the family are Monsoon Wedding (Danehill {USA}), Salameh (Secret Savings {USA}), Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Schwarz (Zoustar), Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), Gathering (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Rustic Steel (Deep Field).
Southern Money was purchased for $30,000 by Paul Willetts Bloodstock from the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. She was reoffered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale but failed to meet her $75,000 reserve.
Looking Back
Force Of Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) won well at Te Rapa, he looked like he was going to be very unlucky, but he got some clear running room late and flew to get up in a photo-finish. It was a very good effort considering things did not go his way throughout.
Naina (Pierro) was disappointing on debut running seventh at Benalla. More ground looks like it may suit this filly.
Eagle Express (Alabama Express) ran a very unlucky third at Benalla, she never really got clear running room and had a fair bit more to give. She looks a nice filly and she should be winning a maiden soon.
