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. At Ellerslie, well bred fillies by Almanzor (Fr) and Snitzel make their debuts after looking smart at the trials. At Rosehill a well-bred Wootton Bassett (GB) 2-year-old colt also makes his debut.
Ellerslie, Race 2, 11.02am AEDT (1.02pm local), Prezzy Card Mdn., $30,000, 1300m
Ascension (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Almanzor {Fr} x Shanro {Lonhro})
Ascension (NZ), a daughter of Cambridge Stud’s classy stallion Almanzor (Fr), will make her debut at Ellerslie for Cambridge trainer Samantha Logan on Saturday. She has looked smart at the trials and earnt a spot in the ‘black book’ after winning very comfortably at the Ellerslie trials on September 10 over 1100 metres when defeating Lady Georgiana (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}) in soft fashion, she then had a nice quiet trial at Waipa over 1150 metres on November 8 when running a narrow third behind Harvest Day (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}).
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
This well-bred filly is the seventh foal from the Lonhro mare Shanro, who was unraced on the track. Shanro proven to be avery good broodmare and has left four individual winners on the track including Sergio (NZ) (Swiss Ace) who was a seven-time winner from 1200 metres to 1600 metres including in the Listed Anzac Mile, Windsor (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) who was a six-time winner up to 1400 metres and he was successful in the Listed Timaru S., Murless (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has been a eight-time winner in Australia and Queen Kamada (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has won over 1200 metres at Awapuni.
Ascension has some lovely stallion influences running through her blood including Iffraaj (GB), , Straight Strike (USA), Diesis (GB), Doyoun (Ire), Maria’s Mon (USA), Zabeel (NZ), Flying Spur and Bletchingly.
Shanro since producing Ascension has left a 2-year-old colt by Tivaci, a yearling colt by Ardrossan and was due to foal to Sword Of State in late October this spring.
Ascension was bred and is raced by Brown Thoroughbreds Ltd and JML Bloodstock Ltd.
Ellerslie, Race 3, 11.38am AEDT (1.38pm local), Mondiale VGL Mdn Two Year Old., $30,000, 1100m
In Haste, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Prompt {Exceed And Excel})
The superbly-bred In Haste is set to make her debut over 1100 metres for Matamata trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Ellerslie on Saturday. She has trialled up very sharply at Waipa twice in preparation for her debut, on October 29 she ran third behind her well-bred stablemate He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel) and the promising Sweet Ice (NZ) (Frosted {USA}), and then on November 18 she won nicely defeating La Cadieri (NZ) (Shamexpress) by 2l over 850 metres.
In Haste as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
In Haste is a daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s Champion stallion Snitzel and is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Prompt who only raced three times. As a broodmare however she has been outstanding leaving six winners, the best of these have been the Beneteau mare Prompt Response. She was a six-time winner and her wins included the G1 Tattersalls Tiara, G2 Emancipation S., G2 Breeders’ Classic, G2 Dane Ripper S., and the Listed Twilight Glow S. Her other winners include Prompt Return (Beneteau) who won seven-times including the G3 Maribyrnong Plate and Diamond Glow (Bel Esprit) who was a smart two-year-old placing in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (f)
The family has stayed in the news as Prompt Response has been a star at stud in the sales ring, all from the draft of Widden Stud, her first foal Big Demeanor (I Am Invincible) sold for $500,000 to Annabel Neasham/Brian McGuire at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Sister Cynane (I Am Invincible) sold for $1,300,000 to Wexford Stables at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and Plaintiff (Zoustar) sold for $2,300,000 to James Harron Bloodstock at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Prompt is still breeding but has had some bad luck since producing In Haste, unfortunately she has not left a live-foal since.
Ladbrokes Racing Club/Newgate Bloodstock was the purchaser of In Haste for $400,000 from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Rosehill Gardens, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, Ranvet H., $160,000, 1100m
Gallo Nero, 2-year-old colt (Wootton Bassett {GB} x Chianti {I Am Invincible})
The Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained Gallo Nero will be making his debut at Rosehill on Saturday over 1100 metres. He trialled up quite nicely at Rosehill on November 4 when running fourth over 900 metres in preparation for his debut. He showed a bit of talent that day having a nice quiet trial behind race-rival Good Hotspur (Calyx {GB}). He then improved nicely to win a trial over 900 metres at Rosehill on November 14 defeating King Of Pop (Farnan).
Gallo Nero as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Gallo Nero is a son of Coolmore Stud’s outstanding shuttling stallion Wootton Bassett (GB) and this colt is part of his first Australian crop, he is out of the I Am Invincible mare Chianti. She was a handy filly and won twice at sprinting distances including at metropolitan level in Sydney.
Gallo Nero’s grandam is the Jallad (USA) mare Sweet Sanette (Saf), who was a winner eight-times on the track including at Group level in South Africa and Listed level in Hong Kong.
Sweet Sanette has left six individual winners on the track including Sweet Rockette (Fastnet Rock) who won at 1200 metres and was placed in the G3 Scarborough S. Her other winners were the before mentioned Chianti, Invincible Rock (Fastnet Rock), Royal Dress (I Am Invincible), Sweet Justice (Justify {USA}) and Fast ‘n’ Rolling (Fastnet Rock).
Gallo Nero is very well-related and has some strong international stallion pedigree influences that are prominent throughout including Iffraaj (GB), Chief’s Crown (USA), Gone West (USA), Secretariat (USA), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Zoffany (USA) and Blushing Groom (Fr).
Gallo Nero sold for $370,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Hawkes Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Glenbeigh Farm.
Looking Back
Amusing (Masar {Ire}) won nicely at Canterbury, it looked like she was about to be extremely unlucky being locked away on the inside, but she found a gap and pounced strongly late to get deserved maiden success.
Inside Man (Lonhro) won nicely on debut at Canterbury at good odds, he was very professional on debut, capitalised on a beautiful run put them away late.
Miss Altair (Capitalist) kept her winning run going, she won with a touch of class and looks like she could turn into a decent sprinting mare.
