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 runners are set to hit the track at Pakenham on Friday. These include an Extreme Choice filly chasing maiden success, an Ardrossan gelding deserves his maiden victory and an English-bred son of Nathaniel (Ire) makes his first start in Australia.
Sportsbet Pakenham, Race 1, 6.15pm AEDT, Sportsbet Fast Form 3YO Fillies Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1400m
Rockin’ At Midnite, 3-year-old filly (Extreme Choice x Trajectory {Northern Meteor})
Pakenham’s Friday meeting will be the venue for the fourth start of Rockin’ At Midnite (Extreme Choice). At her first start she ran a good third at Geelong on September 1 before running a fair race for sixth on September 12 on the same track. She had a flashing light on her at Ballarat on October 24 over 1200 metres when she charged home to finish second to the very promising Keepsake (Snitzel), this race looks weaker and she should be a great chance.
The sharply bred filly is by the outstanding Extreme Choice and is the second live-foal foal from the Northern Meteor mare Trajectory, who was a three-time winner from 1400 metres to 1600 metres. Her only other foal Outcaster (Pariah) has been a two-time winner on the track.
Extreme Choice | Standing at Newgate Farm
Trajectory is very well-related being a three-quarter sister to the very talented stayer Douro Valley (Encosta De Lago) who saluted the judge eight times including in the G1 Yalumba S. and the Listed Naturalism S. He also ran a gallant second in the G1 Caulfield Cup. Another half-sibling is Stellamac (Mull Of Kintyre {USA}) who has been a five-time winner including in the Listed James HB Carr S.
Trajectory has unfortunately not left a live foal since Rockin’ At Midnite and she has now been retired from stud. Rockin' At Midnite was withdrawn from both the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet Pakenham, Race 2, 6.45pm AEDT, Pakenham Mazda Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
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) (Ardrossan) to make his fourth start at Pakenham on Friday over 1200 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. Last start he was very brave running third at Caulfield on October 19 over 1400 metres in strong 3-year-old company behind Getafix (Calyx {GB}).
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 and 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 Classic 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 was due to foal again to Ardrossan late last month.
Sportsbet Pakenham, Race 5, 8.15pm AEDT, Bruce Clough Memorial Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1600m
Thurmond (GB), 4-year-old gelding (Nathaniel {Ire} x Winsili {GB} {Dansili {GB}})
The promising and well-bred Thurmond (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is set to have his second start for Ciaron Maher at Pakenham on Friday. He ran third at Dundalk over 2112 metres on debut on January 31 in Ireland and since being imported he has had three quiet jump outs in Australia to prepare himself for this assignment.
Thurmond is a son of the high-class Nathaniel (Ire) who has sired nine individual Group 1 winners from his base at Newsells Park Stud in England including the Champion and 11-time Group 1 winner in Enable (GB). Thurmond is out of the very talented mare Winsili (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who was successful in the G1 Nassau S. amongst her three wins.
Nathaniel (Ire) | Standing at Newsells Park Stud, UK
Winsili herself is a three-quarter sister to Ice Blue (GB) (Dansili) who was a Group 2 winner in France and a half-sister to the Listed winners Backcountry (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Franconia (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
His pedigree is full of influential international stallions such as Galileo (Ire), Sadler’s Wells (USA), Danehill (USA), Pivotal (GB), Nijinsky II (Can), Roberto (USA) and Rainbow Quest (USA).
Thurmond was withdrawn from the 2024 Tattersalls February Sale.
Looking Back
California Secret (Deep Field) was disappointing running seventh at Hawkesbury.
Starphistocated (Churchill {Ire}) ran a very good race at Hawkesbury for third, she had a good run throughout and battled on solidly to place.
Surprise Honey (Extreme Choice) was impressive winning at Ipswich, she never looked like losing and won with a bit of authority. She could be one to follow.
