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 Australia on Friday. A well-bred Masar (Ire) filly looks ready to win her maiden at Canterbury, a promising Lonhro colt debuts also at Canterbury and a progressive Capitalist filly looks to carry on her winning way at Moonee Valley.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 6pm AEDT, Inglis Xtra Bonus Plate, $60,000, 1550m
Amusing, 3-year-old filly (Masar {Ire} x Entertains {Street Cry {USA}})
Canterbury’s Friday meeting will serve as the venue for the third start for the Godolphin bred and owned filly Amusing. She ran very well on debut when placing second at Newcastle on November 2 behind Lady Savannah (Snitzel) over 1300 metres and then backed that up with a strong third placing at Kembla Grange on November 16 over 1300 metres behind Verona Rose (Castelvecchio).
Amusing is by the G1 The Derby-winning sire in Masar (Ire) and she has a very strong pedigree with her page full of influential international stallions including Galileo (Ire), Cape Cross (Ire), Selkirk (USA), Stravinsky (USA), Miswaki (USA), Street Cry (Ire) and Riverman (USA).
Masar (Ire) | Standing at Stunnyhill Stud
Her dam Entertains (Street Cry{Ire}) was a three-time winner on the track and managed a placing in the G3 Aspiration H. She has produced two winners with the best of these being Egot (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who has been a seven-time winner in France from 1100 metres to 1700 metres including in the G3 Pri de Seine-et-Oise, G3 Prix du Palais-Royal, Listed Prix de Tourgeville, Listed Prix Matchem, Listed Prix Servanne and the Listed Prix Cor der Chasse.
She is also very well-related. She is a three-quarter sister to the classy sprinter Trekking (Street Cry) who was a ten time winner with the best of these being in the G1 Stradbroke H., and the G1 Goodwood H. He also managed a placing in The Everest. Amusing’s grandam is the Champion 3-Year-Old Serenade Rose (Stravinsky{USA}) who enjoyed success in the G1 Australian Oaks, G1 VRC Oaks, G1 Arrowfield S., G2 Edward Manifold S., G2 Wakeful S., and the G2 Angus Armanasco S.
Since producing Amusing, Entertains has produced a 2-year-old filly named Contemplates (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), a yearling filly by Palace Pier (GB) and unfortunately slipped to Dundeel (NZ) last spring.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 6.30pm AEDT, The Agency Real Estate Plate, $60,000, 1250m
Inside Man, 3-year-old colt (Lonhro x Sultah {Exceed And Excel})
The well-bred Inside Man, is set to make his debut over 1250 metres for trainer Chris Waller at Canterbury on Friday. In preparation 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 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 both 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).
Inside Man as a yearling | Images 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 (Reser) who won the Listed Werribee Cup.
The Lonhro/Exceed And Excel cross has had some solid success with a 81% winners to runners ratio and a very good 11% 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.
Moonee Valley, Race 2, 6.15pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Form Genius H., $60,000, 1200m
Miss Altair, 3-year-old filly (Capitalist x Shining Eagle {Verrazano {USA}})
The Flemington based-trainer’s Ben, Will and JD Hayes saddle up Miss Altair to have her fourth start over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley on Friday. As a juvenile she ran two solid fourths in strong company behind Husk (Calyx {GB}) and Benagil (Manhattan Rain) and after a little break she resumed with a nice maiden win at Pakenham when defeating the talented Taken (NZ) (Ardrossan) over 1200 metres on October 8. That was a dominant 4l victory and she looked a talented filly that could win again at short notice, she gets her chance here in what looks a nice race for her.
Miss Altair as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This promising filly is the first foal from the Verrazano (USA) mare Shining Eagle, who was a winner at 1300 metres. Her dam Dashing Eagle (Danehill {USA}) won the G1 Flight S., and the G1 Thousand Guineas. Shining Eagle’s pedigree expands further as she is also a half-sister to Being Fabulous (High Chaparral {Ire}) who was a five-time winner in South Africa including at Listed grade, Embley (High Chaparral) and Gaburin (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) were also both stakes-placed on the track.
Other Group performers in the pedigree include Single Bullet (Not A Single Doubt), La Caissiere (Luskin Star), Ringa Ringa Rosie (Bradbury’s Luck), Hightail (Written Tycoon), De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Jerezana (Lonhro), Zapateo (Brazen Beau) and Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}).
Miss Altair was a $240,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Racing from the draft of Kenmore Lodge at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Fury Of Flight (Zoustar) ran a nice third on debut as hot favourite at Otaki, he got back in running and ground on solidly, it was a bit of a 'messy' race with the winner running out badly and he looked like he would improve off the run.
First Mission (Snitzel) won nicely at Hawkesbury, he has a touch of quality about him and he could easily progress into a talented galloper.
Monarch Express (Alabama Express) ran a nice fourth at Ballina at big odds. A nice effort on debut.
