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 Australia on Thursday. These include a promising Savabeel colt related to Efficient (NZ) at Warrnambool. Then Wyong is the venue for a well-related Russian Revolution colt to make his debut and a Shalaa (Ire) gelding that has outstanding form resumes.
Warrnambool, Race 2, 2pm AEDT, Mclaren Hunt Financial Group Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1700m
Morthan Efficient (NZ), 3-year-old colt (Savabeel x Sunniva {NZ} {Pour Moi {Ire}})
Warrnambool’s Thursday meeting will serve as the venue for the third start for the Waikato Stud bred Morthan Efficient (NZ). In his two starts at Bendigo he has held his ground well and has done his best work late both times. On the back of these showings and when looking at his breeding the step up to 1700 metres will definitely be of benefit.
Morthan Efficient is by the Champion New Zealand sire in Savabeel and he has a strong international pedigree with his page full of influential staying stallions including Zabeel (NZ), Montjeu (Ire), Defensive Play (USA), Darshaan (GB), Northern Dancer (Can) and Sadler’s Wells (USA).
Morthan Efficient (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
His dam Sunniva (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}) was unraced on the track but is very well-related. She is a three-quarter sister to the former Windsor Park Stallion and Group 2 winner Guillotine (NZ) and a half-sister to the G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Turnbull S. and G1 VRC Derby victor in Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel).
Since producing Morthan Efficient, Sunniva has a 2-year-old colt by Savabeel and the Savabeel influence continues as she is due to foal to the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas-winning son of Savabeel in Noverre (NZ) early next month.
Wyong, Race 2, 1.50pm AEDT, Legrand Super Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1100m
Revolt, 3-year-old colt (Russian Revolution x Hot Summer Night {Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}})
The well-related Revolt (Russian Revolution) is set to make his debut over 1100 metres for trainer’s Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou on the back of some very promising trial performances. He has had four trials in total but has looked very smart this preparation winning both of them. At Rosehill on October 4, he defeated Dark Arts (Snitzel) narrowly over 900 metres before repeating that effort again at Rosehill on October 18 when defeating Ninette (Zoustar) by 1.5l again over 900 metres.
Revolt is the sixth foal from the Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) mare Hot Summer Night. She was only placed on the track but has left a mark as a broodmare leaving the Group 2 winner Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt) who herself has left Schwarz (Zoustar) who has been successful in the G2 Missile S. G3 Hawkesbury Guineas and the Listed Amanda Elliot H.
Revolt as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Revolt’s second dam is the Giant’s Causeway (USA) mare Unspoken Choice, she herself is a half-sister to the late Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice and Group 1 winners and sires Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors.
Revolt sold for $500,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale with Kia Ora Stud, TFI and Ryan & Alexiou Racing Pty Ltd being the successful purchaser from the draft of Vinery Stud.
Hot Summer Night since producing Revolt has produced Russian Revolution 2-year-old and yearling full sisters and she was due to foal to the Not A Single Doubt stallion Stronger early this spring.
Wyong, Race 2, 1.50pm, AEDT, Legrand Super Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1100m
Shalaa Gold, 3-year-old gelding (Shalaa {Ire} x Murtle Turtle {Murtajill})
It's a solid and strong form line for this Bjorn Baker-trained gelding who at his first start at Warwick Farm ran second behind the very talented colt Emirate (Extreme Choice) on May 8 and then at his second start he ran another good second behind also at Warwick Farm behind Private Life (Written Tycoon) the subsequent G1 Caulfield Guineas victor on May 22. This form looks very strong for a maiden race at Wyong and he very much looks the horse to beat on exposed face value.
He has also trialled up three times to build fitness for this first-up race assignment winning his last one at Rosehill over 900 metres on October 18 when defeating Better Breakout (Better Than Ready) by 1.18l.
Shalaa Gold is by Shalaa (Ire) and is the fifth foal out of Murtle Turtle (Murtajill) who was a talented juvenile who won at metropolitan level in South Australia and managed placings in the G3 Breeders’ S. and the G3 Sires’ Produce S.
Shalaa Gold as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Murtle Turtle has made a useful start to her breeding career, she has left four individual-winners including the nine-time winner Hurtle (Capitalist), the three-time winner California Deeply (Deep Field), Gun (Extreme Choice) and Time For Love (Time For War).
The family page has some lovely pedigree influences including Invincible Spirit (Ire), Danzig (USA), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire), Last Tycoon (Ire), Roberto (USA) and Diesis (GB).
Myrtle Turtle, since producing Shalaa Gold has left a 2-year-old colt named Prestige Prince (Pierro), a yearling colt by Widden Stud’s Anders and was due to foal to Marine One earlier this month.
Shalaa Gold was purchased by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Emirates Park (As Agent for Merricks Station) for $240,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Mille Grazie (NZ) (Super Seth) was unfortunately scratched, this promising filly will keep for another day.
Snitzanova (Snitzel) was very impressive winning on the Randwick-Kensington track, she settled well back, and she finished off very strongly to salute at very good odds. Being out of a Galileo (Ire) mare it looks like more ground will also suit.
Wowzino (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) ran an improvers race for fifth, he come off the bit quite early which suggests that he needed the run and could improve quickly next start.
