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 3-year-old runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Friday. These include a Snitzel half-sister to In Secret debuting at Mornington, a well-bred Snitzel filly resumes at Doomben and a consistent Lonhro gelding chases maiden success at Moonee Valley.
Mornington, Race 5, 3.05pm AEDT, Sportsbet More Places Plate, $27,000, 1000m
Secret Elegance, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Eloping {Choisir})
The Pakenham based-trainer Peter Gelagotis saddles up Secret Elegance (Snitzel) to make her debut at Mornington over 1000 metres on Friday. She looked handy in her last jump out at Pakenham over 800 metres when defeating Wonder Cam (Churchill {Ire}).
This well-bred filly is the fourth foal from the Choisir mare 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 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before James Cummings trained her to become a dual Group 1 winner.
Secret Elegance as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
There is even more depth to this family with horses featuring such as the stakes-placed filly Jesse’s Girl (Choisir), All Courage who was successful in the G3 Carbine Club S., and 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.
Eloping since producing Secret Elegance has left a 2-year-old filly by I Am Invincible named Kerber, a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and produced a colt by I Am Invincible in September this spring.
Secret Elegance was purchased by G W Racing Bloodstock Ltd/James Bester Bloodstock from the draft of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for $325,000 at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Doomben, Race 4, 4.22pm AEDT (3.22pm local), Empire Of Japan @ Hopetoun Farm QTIS Three-Year-Old Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1350m
Humid, 3-year-old filly (Snitzel x Sultry Feeling {Encosta De Lago})
The well-bred Humid (Snitzel) is set to make her third start for trainer Chris Waller at Doomben on Friday. She raced twice in Sydney during her first preparation and while she didn’t show a lot, this looks a drop in class as she chases maiden success.
Humid is a daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s outstanding stallion Snitzel and is out of the Encosta De Lago mare Sultry Feeling. She was a very talented sprinting racemare winning five times including in the G3 Triscay S., and the G3 Birthday Card S.
Humid as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sultry Feeling has already made a mark as a broodmare leaving three winners including King’s Gambit, he was the victor in the G2 Roman Consul S., and the Listed Debutant S. He has now nearly completed his first book of mares at Newgate Stud Farm. Her other winners have been Dame Cartland (Written Tycoon) and Wholesome Delight (Exceed And Excel).
Since leaving Humid, Sultry Feeling has produced a 2-year-old filly by Extreme Choice named Mimi’s, a yearling colt by I Am Invincible and unfortunately missed to I Am Invincible last spring.
Chris Waller Racing was the purchaser for $825,000 from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Moonee Valley, Race 2, 6.45pm AEDT, Symal Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1200m
Nimbustwothousand, 3-year-old gelding (Lonhro x Golden Snitch {Snitzel})
In-form trainer Gavin Bedggood prepares the Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm-bred and owned Lonhro gelding Nimbustwothousand to make his third start at Moonee Valley on Friday. He ran a great race for a narrow second placing on debut at Ballarat on October 24 over 1200 metres behind Just For Show (Showtime) when he led throughout and only got run down very late and then backed up that effort up with a tidy second at Geelong on November 17 behind the promising Hot Digity Boom (Spirit Of Boom).
This well-bred gelding is out of the Snitzel mare Golden Snitch, who was a winner at 1100 metres on the track. Nimbustwothousand is a half-sister to Heavy Metal (Blue Point {Ire}) she has yet to win but is very promising having been placed in the Listed Supremacy S., and run fourth in the G3 Gimcrack S.
Lonhro | Image courtesy of Darley
The stand-out within the pedigree is Nimbustwothousand’s grandam, the sprinting grey sensation in Gold Edition (Lion Hunter). She was successful 17 times including 14 of these wins being at black-type level. Her biggest wins were in the G1 Ascot Vale S., (now named the G1 Coolmore S.) and the G1 Manikato S.
Since Producing Nimbustwothousand, Golden Snitch has produced a 2-year-old colt by So You Think (NZ), a yearling colt by Shamus Award, and foaled a colt by Hanseatic in September this year but sadly passed away not long after foaling that colt.
Looking Back
Beskar (Snitzel) won impressively on debut at Geelong, he looks a very nice juvenile.
Hot Mama (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) ran fourth on debut at New Plymouth, it was a tidy effort and she found the line great. Improved track conditions and more ground will suit this half-sister to a G1 VRC Derby winner.
Bangalow Road (Toronado {Ire}) was scratched, she will keep for another day.
