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 and New Zealand on Thursday. These include a consistent Alabama Express 3-year-old gelding chasing maiden success at Caulfield, a Shamexpress (NZ) gelding looks well placed at Kembla Grange and a very promising Tarzino (NZ) gelding looks hard to beat at Ellerslie.
Caulfield Heath, Race 1, 3.25pm AEDT, Sportsbet Same Race Multi Mdn Plate, $55,000, 1600m
Sigiriya Rock, 3-year-old gelding (Alabama Express x Munees Gemini {Ire} {Australia {GB}})
The Chris Waller trained Alabama Express gelding Sigiriya Rock will be having his third start at Caulfield on Thursday. He has run two very good seconds in his career so far at Sale and at Kilmore. Both times he has put in honest on-pace efforts and he looks hard to beat in this 1600 metre event on Thursday.
This promising gelding is out of the Australia (GB) mare Munees Gemini (Ire), who was placed on the track in Ireland as a juvenile. She has started her broodmare career well with her first foal Rimbaud (Lope De Vega {Ire}) so far being a two-time winner on the track, with both of these wins being at metropolitan level in Queensland.
Sigiriya Rock as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Some of the international black-type winners within this very good family include By Land By Sea (USA) (Sauce Boat {USA}), Leamington (USA) (Pleasant Tap {USA}), Bauble Queen (USA) (Arch {USA}) and Blitzkrieg (USA) (War Front {USA}).
Sigiriya Rock has some outstanding international influences within his dam including Galileo (Ire), Cape Cross (Ire), Ahonoora (GB), Danzig (USA), Storm Cat (USA) and Key To The Mint (USA).
Since Producing Sigiriya Rock, Munees Gemini foaled a filly by Alabama Express in August.
Sigiriya Rock was a $200,000 purchase by Rock The Runway from the draft of Yulong at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 4, 3.50pm AEDT, Gary Thatcher Memorial 4YO@UP Mdn Plate, $42,000, 1400m
Shambretta (NZ), 4-year-old gelding (Shamexpress {NZ} x Lambretta {NZ} {Mastercraftsman {Ire}})
The Randwick based-trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton saddle up Shambretta (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) to make his second start over 1400 metres at Kembla Grange on Thursday.
This promising gelding is by Shamexpress (NZ) who has been in the news lately as the sire of the outstanding Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) and is the fifth live-foal from the well-related Mastercraftsman (Ire) mare Lambretta (NZ) who was unplaced on the track.
Shamexpress (NZ) | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
Lambretta is a half-sister to the very quick and talented galloper Vespa (NZ) he was a very smart galloper in New Zealand winning the G1 Diamond S., G2 Wellington Guineas, R. Listed Karaka Million, Listed Flying H., and the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge S. He has gone on to be a handy enough stallion from limited opportunities leaving five stakes-winners including the G1 Thorndon Mile victor in Puntura (NZ).
Lambretta’s talented siblings don’t stop there, she is also a half-sister to Hazzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who was successful in the G3 RJ Peters S., and the Listed Kilmore Cup. The talented filly Aprilia (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) has been a winner as a juvenile and classy enough to place in the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce and the G2 Edward Manifold S.
Lambretta since producing Shambretta has left a 3-year-old gelding by Belardo (Ire) that is named Storm Pegasus (NZ), a 2-year-old filly named Modette (NZ) (Time Test {GB}), a yearling filly by Proisir and was not served in 2023.
Shambretta was passed in short of her reserve at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Ellerslie, Race 5, 4.12pm AEDT (6.12pm local), Barfoot & Thompson 3YO Mdn., $25,000, 1400m
Willydoit (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Tarzino {NZ} x Willamette {More Than Ready {USA}})
The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained Willydoit (NZ) will have his second start at Ellerslie on Thursday over 1400 metres. He looked very good at the trials winning both of them at Ellerslie and Waipa in impressive fashion, he then made his debut at Te Aroha and put in a great effort when charging home late to run third in a real eye-catching run on November 12 behind Ribraka (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}).
Willydoit (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
This Tarzino (NZ) gelding is the first live-foal out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Willamette, who unplaced on the track. She is well-related however being out of Portland Singa (NZ) (Danasinga), she was a very good stayer and was successful in the G1 Brisbane Cup, G3 Ipswich Cup and the Listed Caloundra City Cup.
Overall the family is a bit quiet of black-type performers but there are some lovely pedigree influences throughout including Tavistock (GB), Quest For Fame (GB), Sir Tristram (Ire), Star Way (GB), Woodman (USA), Danehill (USA), Oregon (USA) and Halo (USA).
Willydoit (NZ) was a NZ$75,000 purchase by Mr S Clotworthy from the draft of Westbury Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
West Head (Pierata) ran a very good third at Wyong, he only went down narrowly and should be winning a maiden very soon.
Memo (Capitalist) ran a very good second, she was charging home late and looks a filly with a very nice future.
Becca (Better Than Ready) was scratched from her race, she will keep for another day.
