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 Sunday. A beautifully bred Savabeel filly debuts at Ascot Park, an expensive Zoustar filly debuts at Kilmore and a promising Almanzor (Fr) filly chases maiden success also at Kilmore.
Ascot Park, Race 2, 10.52am AEDT (12.52pm local), Top Pub & Johnny Phillips Life Member Mdn, $20,000, 1200m
The Bright One (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Savabeel x The Precious One {NZ} {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
Ascot Park’s Sunday meeting will serve as the venue for the debut for the well-bred The Bright One (NZ). She has had one public trial in preparation for this assignment and that was back in April when she ran a tidy fourth at Waipa behind the promising Brazen Affair (NZ) (Brazen Beau).
The Bright One is by the Champion New Zealand sire in Savabeel and she comes from the famous “Dennis Brother’s" family, her page is full of influential international and colonial stallions including Zabeel (NZ), Success Express (USA), Nureyev (USA), Vice Regal (NZ), Noble Bijou (USA), O’Reilly (NZ), Last Tycoon (Ire) and Danehill (USA).
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
Her dam The Precious One (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was a five-time winner over sprint trips, including at Listed level and her grandam is The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) she was an outstanding mare and was successful 11-times including in the G1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas, G1 International S., G3 Doomben Roses S., Listed Dunedin Guineas and the Listed Southland Guineas
The family is outstanding and is full of other group-winners including the durable campaigner The Chosen One (NZ), The Diamond One (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), Star Affair (NZ) (Star Way {GB}), La Bella Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}), Solid Billing (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), The One (NZ) (O’Reilly), Ascend The Throne (NZ) (Savabeel) and The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel).
Since producing The Bright One, The Precious One has unfortunately missed twice to Per Incanto {USA} but she was due to foal to Satono Aladdin (Jpn) earlier this spring.
Bet365 Park Kilmore, Race 1, 1.10pm AEDT, MC Labour 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
Rambling, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Fuddle Dee Duddle {Red Ransom {USA}})
Kilmore's Sunday meeting will be the venue for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained well-bred Rambling to make her debut. She has prepared for this assignment with a very quiet trial at Cranbourne on October 16 over 800 metres.
Rambling is by Widden Stud’s outstanding sire in Zoustar and is the seventh foal out of the Red Ransom (USA) mare Fuddle Dee Duddle who was very talented on the track winning four times from 1100 metres to 1600 metres including in the G3 Champion Fillies S., in Perth. She has went on to become a successful broodmare leaving four individual winners including Brereton (Zoustar) who cost $1,000,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and on the track he has so far saluted the judge 3-times with the best of these wins being in the G3 Maribyrnong P.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
Other family members include the outstanding Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) she has been successful 11-times in her career so far including the G1 The Everest, G1 Manikato S., G1 Doomben Ten Thousand S., G1 Tattersall’s Tiara, G2 Sapphire S., G3 How Now S., G3 Quezette S., and the Listed Carlyon S. Also amongst those wins have been top four placings in another 11 Group 1 races as well as a whole lot more stakes races. Another star galloper within this family is the the talented mare Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) who was successful in the G2 Gilgai S., and the Listed Darby Munro S., and managed placings in the G1 Flight S., G1 TJ Smith S., G1 Patinack Classic and the G1 Thousand Guineas amongst other stakes-races.
Since leaving Rambling, Fuddle Dee Duddle has left a 2-year-old colt by Zoustar named Space Rider who has looked smart at the trials, a yearling colt by Zoustar and she foaled a Zoustar filly in September this spring.
Rambling was purchased for $1,450,000 by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bet365 Park Kilmore, Race 4, 2.55pm AEDT, C+M Build Group Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1600m
Scottie’s Legacy, 4-year-old mare (Almanzor {Fr} x Kay’s Legacy {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}})
The Mark Walker-trained Almanzor (Fr) mare Scottie’s Legacy will be making her third start at Kilmore on Sunday over 1600 metres. She debuted in New Zealand at Tauranga running third in October last year and after having a long break made her next start at Kyneton on October 22 over 1469 metres where she ran a great race for second behind Stupendous (Trapeze Artist).
This mare is the third foal out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Kay’s Legacy (NZ), who only raced three times on the track for no success. But she holds plenty of appeal being a half-sister to the talented Almanzor gelding in Rise at Dawn (NZ). He has so far been successful seven times with the best of his wins being in the Listed Heatherlie S. She is also a half-sister to the group-placed Almanzor filly Kay’s Ruebe (NZ).
Scottie's Legacy as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Kay’s Awake (NZ) (Towkay) is the grandam of Scottie’s Legacy, she was an extremely talented sprinter winning six times including in the Listed Newmarket H., but she showed her class placing twice in both the G1 Telegraph H., and the G1 Waikato Draught Sprint, and also in the G3 Stewards S., Listed Kelt Memorial H.. Listed Lion Red Plate, Listed Lightning S. and the Listed Pegasus S.
Kay’s Legacy since producing Scottie’s Legacy has left a 3-year-old unraced gelding named Marebello (NZ) (Epaulette), a 2-year-old filly by Contributer (Ire) and a yearling filly by Almanzor.
Scottie’s Legacy was a NZ$110,000 purchase by Shaune Ritchie Racing from the draft of Leanach Lodge at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Return To Conquer (Snitzel) was a very impressive winner at Pukekohe, he led all the way and did it very easily. A very talented juvenile that should go on with it and definitely is one to follow.
Buckled (Hellbent) ran a solid sixth, he should improve off that.
Starphistocated (Churchill {Ire}) won impressively, she is a filly to follow.
