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.
Two runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Tuesday. A Pierata 2-year-old chases maiden success at Mackay and a sharply-bred Street Boss (USA) 3-year-old colt looks for success at Ararat.
Mackay, Race 2, 2.45pm AEDT (1.45pm local), Book Event Centre for Functions QTIS 2-Year-Old Mdn H., $23,000, 1050m
Bang Stick, 2-year-old colt (Pierata x Cabin Fever {Sidereus})
Bang Stick, a son of Yulong Stud’s promising young stallion Pierata, will have his second start at Mackay for trainer Tom Button. On debut at Townsville on November 17, he battled on solidly behind the promising Satisfied Mugs (Invader) over 1000 metres. With that race day experience he looks hard to beat in this juvenile event.
The sharply-bred colt is the second foal from the Sidereus mare Cabin Fever, who was a three-time winner on the track and was unlucky not to gain black-type fully as she was classy enough to run fourth in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, Listed Oxlade S., and the Listed Mode Plate.
Bang Stick as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Pierro/General Nediym cross has had some success with small numbers with an outstanding 85 per cent winners to runners ratio and 14 per cent stakes-winners to runners ratio with I Like It Easy being the best of these and she was successful in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality H., she has then gone on to leave the Group 3-winning filly Facile (Trapeze Artist). With Cabin Fever being by a son of General Nediym in Sidereus it gives confidence that this extended cross may work.
Cabin Fever since producing Bang Stick, has left a yearling colt by Pierata and unfortunately she missed to Cosmic Force last spring.
Bang Stick was a value $10,000 purchase by his trainer Tom Button from the draft of Amarina Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.
Ararat, Race 5, 3pm AEDT, Harvey Norman Ararat Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1300m
Akuma, 3-year-old colt (Street Boss (USA) x Jesse’s Dream {Choisir})
The Flemington based-trainer Danny O’Brien saddles up Akuma (Street Boss {USA}) to make his third start at Ararat over 1300 metres on Tuesday. His form has only been moderate in his two starts to date running seventh and sixth, but with good natural improvement he may have a chance of winning or featuring in this maiden event.
This nicely bred colt is the fifth live-foal from the Choisir mare Jesse’s Dream who surprisingly was successful at 2000 metres given the speed presence throughout the pedigree.
Jesse’s Dream is a full sister to the very quick Eloping (Choisir), she was a seven-time winner at distances up to 1200 metres including the G3 Randwick S., G3 Champagne S., Listed Blue Sapphire S., Listed Blue Diamond Preview (f) and the Listed Silk Stocking H. She has then gone on to flourish as a broodmare leaving the outstanding In Secret (I Am Invincible) who was purchased by Godolphin for $900,000 as a yearling from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before James Cummings trained her to become a dual Group 1 winner.
Akuma as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
There is even more depth to this family with Jesse’s Dream also being a full-sister to the stakes-placed filly Jesse’s Girl (Choisir) and a three-quarter-sister to Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner) who won twice as a juvenile and both at black-type level in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) and the Listed Debutant S.
Jesse’s Dream since producing Akuma has left a 2-year-old colt by Hanseatic and produced a filly by Darley Stud’s Paulele last month.
Akuma was purchased by Danny O’Brien Racing from the draft of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for $120,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
The Bright One (NZ) (Savabeel) ran an okay race on debut, she did a few things wrong and should be an improver.
Scottie’s Legacy (Almanzor {Fr}) was dominant winning over the mile distance, she was strong late and won with some authority. She could go on with the job from here.
Rambling (Zoustar) was unfortunately scratched, she will keep for another day.
