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 exciting 3-year-old runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Sunday. These include a well-bred Brutal (NZ) gelding that brings very solid form to a Grafton maiden and Newcastle is the venue for a Zoustar filly out of the outstanding grey Catkins (Dubawi {Ire}) to make her debut.
Newcastle, Race 4, 2.50pm AEDT, O’Neill’s Tyres Maitland & Rutherford Super Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1300m
Mignonette, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Catkins {Dubawi {Ire}})
The well-bred Zoustar filly Mignonette is set to make her debut over 1300 metres for trainer Chris Waller at Newcastle on Sunday. She has trialled twice at Rosehill in preparation for this assignment and looked to have a bit of talent when running third on November 14 over 900 metres when running behind She Conquers (Unite And Conquer).
Mignonette is out of the grey classy and prolific winning Dubawi (Ire) mare Catkins. She won 16-races including 10 Group races and two Listed races. Catkins was also Group 1-placed five times in her exceptional career. Adding to this she has also made a promising start to her stud career with her first two Medaglia D’Oro (USA) foals Cat D’Oro and Gracilistyla both being winners and they may add to their records by the time they finish racing.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
Mignonette has some strong international and colonial stallion pedigree influences that are prominent throughout her page including Danehill (USA), Dubawi, Encosta De Lago, Redoute’s Choice, Seeking The Gold (USA), Northern Dancer (Can), Century and Marscay.
Catkins since producing Mignonette has left a 2-year-old named Nandina (So You Think {NZ}) and most recently foaled a filly by Churchill (Ire) in September this year.
Grafton, Race 6, 4.30pm AEDT, Beats In The Valley Music Festival 7 December Super Mdn Plate, $50,000, 1100m
Aged Care, 3-year-old gelding (Brutal {NZ} x With Care {Medaglia D’Oro {USA}})
It's a solid and strong form line for this Kris Lees trained gelding who at his first start at Newcastle ran second behind the promising Shall Be (Shalaa {Ire}) on April 3 and then at his second start he ran a good fourth in the $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge on May 17 behind Overfull (Overshare). After a break he resumed with a solid third at Newcastle behind Generous Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) on November 15 over 900 metres. This form looks very strong for a maiden race at Grafton and he very much looks the horse to beat on exposed face value.
Aged Care is by Brutal (NZ) and is the fourth foal out of With Care (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) who showed some talent on the track winning three times up to 1400 metres.
Aged Care as a weanling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The family page is a bit quiet in terms of having group performers throughout but it has some lovely stallion influences including O’Reilly (NZ), Rainbow Quest (GB), Shirley Heights (GB), Seattle Slew (USA), Snippets, Palace Music (USA) and Quiet American (USA).
With Care, since producing Aged Care has left a 2-year-old colt by Widden Stud’s speedster in Anders, a yearling colt by King’s Legacy and unfortunately missed to Artorius last spring.
Aged Care was purchased by A Carusi from the draft of Toolooganvale Farm for $40,000 at the 2022 Inglis Sydney Australian Weanling Sale.
Looking Back
In Haste (Snitzel) ran well on debut at Ellerslie finishing second. It was a very nice effort on debut and with that experience she should only improve more.
Ascension (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) was a bit unlucky on debut at Ellerslie running fifth, didnt get all favours in the home straight but still ran on solidly. She looks a filly to watch particularly once she gets to a mile distance and even further.
Gallo Nero (Wootton Bassett {GB}) had a bit of a tough run on debut at Rosehill as he had to work hard from his wide gate. He battled on very well under pressure and only faded late in the piece to run a solid fourth.
