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 on Wednesday. A Lonhro colt makes his debut at Canterbury, a well-bred Snitzel filly resumes at Ipswich and a Spirit Of Boom 2-year-old colt looks very hard to beat at Caulfield after placing at stakes level in her first two starts.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 2.35pm AEDT, Kia Ora Prague Plate, $100,000, 1200m
Inside Man, 3-year-old colt (Lonhro x Sultah {Exceed And Excel})
The well-bred Inside Man, is set to make his debut over 1200 metres for trainer Chris Waller at Canterbury on Wednesday. In preparation for this debut he has trialled twice at Rosehill and went well both times, at his latest one he ran a close-up second behind Fly Scotty Fly (Brazen Beau) on August 14 over 900 metres.
Inside Man is by the very good and now pensioned sire in Lonhro and is the seventh foal out of the Exceed And Excel mare Sultah, who was a three-time winner on the track. She has proven to be successful as a broodmare leaving six winners including Haybah (More Than Ready {USA}) and Taraayef (Lonhro) who have been successful at Listed level, her other winners are Ghenwaa (Street Cry {Ire}), Muraahib (Reset), Tadween (Poet’s Voice {GB}) and Divine Rule (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Inside Man as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sultah is also well-related being a half-sister to Rebel Raider who was the victor in the G1 VRC Derby and the G1 South Australian Derby, Shamoline Warrior who was successful in the G3 Norman Robinson S., and Cadillac Mountain (Reset) who won the Listed Werribee Cup.
The Lonhro/Exceed And Excel cross has had some solid success with a 81 per cent winners to runners ratio and a very good 11 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. The best performer bred on this cross has been Encryption who was successful in the G2 Danehill S., and the G3 Black Opal S. He has gone on to become a stallion and so far, he has sired two Group winners in Cifrado and Encoder.
Since producing Inside Man, Sultah has left a 2-year-old filly by So You Think (NZ), a yearling colt by So You Think and unfortunately missed to So You Think last spring.
Chris Waller Racing was the purchaser of Inside Man for $400,000 from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
Ipswich, Race 5, 2.53pm AEDT (1.53pm local), Inglis Xtra Bonus Series QTIS 3YO Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1350m
Humid, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Sultry Feeling {Encosta De Lago})
The well-bred Humid is set to make her third start for trainer Chris Waller at Ipswich on Wednesday. She raced twice in Sydney during her first preparation and while she didn’t show a lot, this looks a clear drop in class and she looks a good chance for maiden success.
Humid is a daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s outstanding stallion Snitzel and is out of the Encosta De Lago mare Sultry Feeling. She was a very talented sprinting racemare winning five times including in the G3 Triscay S., and the G3 Birthday Card S.
Humid as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sultry Feeling has already made a mark as a broodmare leaving three winners including King’s Gambit, he was the victor in the G2 Roman Consul S., and the Listed Debutant S. He is now currently serving his first book of mares at Newgate Stud Farm. Her other winners have been Dame Cartland (Written Tycoon) and Wholesome Delight (Exceed And Excel).
Since leaving Humid, Sultry Feeling has produced a 2-year-old filly by Extreme Choice, a yearling colt by I Am Invincible and unfortunately missed to I Am Invincible last spring.
Chris Waller Racing was the purchaser for $825,000 from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Caulfield Heath, Race 1, 1pm AEDT, Sportsbet Jockey Watch H., $50,000, 1000m
Shining Smile, 2-year-old colt (Spirit Of Boom x Nataya Rose {Canny Lad})
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Spirit Of Boom colt Shining Smile will be making his third start at Caulfield on Wednesday over 1000 metres.
Shining Smile has had two previous starts and brings very strong form lines to the juvenile event. At Flemington he ran second on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S., and then backed up that effort again at Flemington with a good third in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate on November 5.
Shining Smile is out of the unraced mare Nataya Rose (Canny Lad), she has so far left three individual winners including Eee Pee Cee (So You Think {NZ}), Wonder Win (Pierro) and So Nataya (So You Think {NZ}).
Spirit Of Boom | Standing at Eureka Stud
She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Gold Anthem (Made Of Gold {USA}) who left 12 individual winners including the globetrotting outstanding sprinter and shuttling stallion Starspangledbanner who was a four-time Group 1 winner. Another half-sister is Circles Of Ice (Marauding {NZ}) who left the Listed winners Tagine (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Marcado (Choisir).
This family has so much depth and there are many other top-class Group winners within the pedigree including the Group 1 winners and stallions Elvstroem and Haradasun as well as Amicus (Fastnet Rock), Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Chief Little Rock (Ire) (Galileo) and Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth).
Nataya Rose since producing Shining Smile has left a Zousain yearling colt and she most recently foaled a colt by Profiteer in September this year.
Shining Smile was a $160,000 purchase by Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Robyn Wise at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Looking Back
Step Quick (Alabama Express) disappointed at Scone running eighth.
The races at Ballina were unfortunately abandoned, Monarch Express (Alabama Express) will keep for another day.
