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 across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. An expensive and promising Snitzel colt debuts in Listed grade at Pukekohe, a well-bred Churchill (Ire) filly chases maiden success at Wyong and a trial winning 2-year-old by Hellbent debuts at Ascot.
Pukekohe, Race 3, 11.01am AEDT (1.01pm local), Listed Counties Challenge S., $110,000, 1100m
Return To Conquer, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x Vaujany {Lonhro})
The well-bred Snitzel colt Return To Conquer is set to make his debut over 1100 meters in the Listed Counties Challenge S., for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Return To Conquer is the second foal out of the Lonhro mare Vaujany. She was unraced on the track but has a great pedigree which assisted her to be a $550,000 purchase by Blue Gum Farm from the draft of Godolphin at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Her pedigree is littered with plenty of Group performers and stallions in her pedigree including Snippetson, Snowland, Freeze, Magic Carpet (Lonhro), Larkspur Run (Shamardal {USA}), Renosu (Exceed And Excel), Ghisoni (Lonhro), Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}) and Francaletta (High Chaparral {Ire}).
The Snitzel/Lonhro cross has had proven success with an okay 55.5 per cent winners to runners ratio, but an outstanding 16 per cent stakes winners to runners ratio. The talented Group 3-winning colt and now Widden Stud stallion Bruckner is one example of a classy galloper that is bred on this cross.
Return To Conquer as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Unfortunately, Ready To Conquer was Vaujany’s last foal as she sadly passed away in February this year.
Ready To Conquer was purchased for $1,300,000 by D C Ellis CNZM (BANZ) from the draft of Blue Gum Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Wyong, Race 3, 2.40pm AEDT, Mercure Kooindah Waters Super Mdn H., $60,000, 1600m
Starphistocated, 3-year-old filly (Churchill {Ire} x Starspangled {Ire} {Danehill {USA}})
The well-bred Starphistocated is set to have her third start over 1600 metres for trainer Anthony Cummings at Wyong on Saturday. At her first start she made very good ground late, to finish fourth at Newcastle on October 19 over 1200 metres behind the promising Flying Embers (Shalaa {Ire}). Then at her second start she ran a solid third at Hawkesbury behind Diddle Dumpling (Deep Field) over 1400 metres. The extra furlong and the experience from her two runs should put her in a good spot to run well in this maiden event.
Starphistocated is a daughter of Churchill (Ire) and is out of the Danehill (USA) mare Starspangled (Ire). She was a winner in Ireland and has gone on to become an outstanding broodmare leaving two talented Group 1 winners in Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) who won the G1 Flight S. and Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) who won the Queensland Oaks.
Churchill (Ire) | Standing at Coolmore Australia
Further back in this outstanding pedigree page is the outstanding four-time Group 1 winner in Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), the G1 Metropolitan H., winner No Compromise (NZ) (Pins), the Listed winner Bradman (NZ) (Pins) and the Listed winner and Group 1-placed Benaud (Reliable Man {GB}).
Since producing Starphistocated, Starspangled has produced a 2-year-old filly by The Everest victor in Yes Yes Yes and most recently foaled a colt by Adelaide (Ire) this spring in September.
Ascot, Race 3, 3.49pm AEST (1.49pm local), Magic Millions - Crystal Slipper S., $100,000, 1100m
Buckled, 2-year-old gelding (Hellbent x Queen Bey {Blackfriars})
Buckled, a gelded son of Yarraman Park’s stallion Hellbent, will be making his debut on his home track at Ascot for local trainer Simon Miller on Saturday. He showed good promise in a trial at Belmont on November 11 over 850 metres when winning narrowly over She’sallcosmic (Cosmic Force).
This promising gelding is the third foal from the Blackfriars mare Queen Bey, who was a five-time winner from 1400 metres up to 2200 metres.
Hellbent | Standing at Yarraman Park
Overall Buckled’s family is a bit quiet up front of black-type form but it does have some beautiful pedigree influences including I Am Invincible, Volksraad (GB), Secret Savings (USA), Canny Lad, Sir Tristram (Ire), Vice Regal (NZ) and Danehill (USA).
Queen Bey since producing Buckled has left a yearling filly by Flying Artie and was due to foal to Tiger Of Malay earlier this spring.
Buckled was withdrawn from the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Looking Back
Wowzino (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was scratched, he will keep for another day.
Last Souvenir (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) ran an outstanding race on debut at New Plymouth, after settling well back he stormed home out wide to run a very good second. He is one to follow over the summer months.
