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 2-year-olds are set to hit the track across Australia on Saturday. These include a Street Boss (USA) filly making her debut at Randwick and Caulfield is the venue for Too Darn Hot (GB) and Alabama Express colts to chase maiden success.
Randwick, Race 5, 2.50pm AEDT, R. Listed Inglis Nursery, $500,000, 1000m
Deep Affection, 2-year-old filly (Street Boss {USA} x Smitten {Lonhro})
The Randwick based-trainer John Thompson saddles up Deep Affection to make her debut on her home track over 1000 metres in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery on Saturday. In preparation for this race she trialled well at the Randwick-Kensington track where she won nicely, defeating Miss Freelove (Tassort) over 850 metres on December 9.
This nicely bred filly is the second foal from the Lonhro mare Smitten who was successful on the track winning at sprint distances twice in Victoria.
Smitten is a half-sister to the talented Astoria (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), he was successful in the G3 Spring S., and placed in the G1 VRC Derby, G2 Tulloch S., G2 Autumn Classic, G3 Schweppervescence H., Listed Eye Liner S., G2 Autumn S., G3 Ming Dynasty H., and the Listed Geelong Classic.
Deep Affection as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
A descendant of - the famed matriarch Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) - Deep Affection comes from an outstanding family. Other successful Group performers within her pedigree are Don Eduardo (NZ), Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Viscount, Helsingborg (Danehill {USA}), Shower Of Roses (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Hiyaam (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Viking Ruler, Kempinsky, The Real Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) and Gift Of Power (Power {GB}).
Smitten since producing Deep Affection has left a yearling colt by Astern and produced a colt by In The Congo in September.
Deep Affection was purchased by John Thompson Racing from the draft of Silverdale Farm for a value price of $20,000 at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Caulfield Heath, Race 5, 2.30pm AEDT, Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic, $250,000, 1100m
Tennessee Valley, 2-year-old colt (Alabama Express x Orange Flame {NZ} {Sweet Orange {USA}})
The Mark and Levi Kavanagh-trained and Yulong Investments Ltd bred Alabama Express colt Tennessee Valley will be making his debut at Caulfield on Saturday.
This promising colt is out of the Sweet Orange (USA) mare Orange Flame (NZ), who was unraced on the track but has plenty of talented sprinting relations close-up in her pedigree.
Orange Flame is a full-sister to Khimar War (Sweet Orange {USA}) the six-time winner up to 1400 metres that was also placed in the Listed Great Easter H.
Tennessee Valley as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Another sibling is her half-sister Flame Of Sydney (Encosta De Lago), she was a Listed winner on the track and Group-placed, but has been even better at stud leaving the Group 1-winning and producing stallion Invader who won the G1 Sires’ Produce S., and the talented sprinter Not Listenin’Tome (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) who has been a five-time Group and Listed winner in Hong Kong and Australia.
Since Producing Tennessee Valley, Orange Flame has produced a yearling filly by Tagaloa and unfortunately slipped to Diatonic (Jpn) from last spring's mating.
Caulfield Heath, Race 5, 2.30pm AEDT, Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic, $250,000, 1100m
Maldini, 2-year-old colt (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Moldova {Snitzel})
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Too Darn Hot (GB) colt Maldini will be making his second start at Caulfield on Saturday. On his debut at Caulfield he didn’t show a lot but there is hope that improvement will be shown second-up.
This well-bred colt is the second foal out of the Snitzel mare Moldova, she was a two-time winner as a juvenile but has made an outstanding start to her broodmare career leaving the very classy filly Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), this season she was successful in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas earlier this month, she was also previously successful as a 2-year-old in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S., G2 Matamata Breeders S., and the G3 Taranaki Classic.
Maldini as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Deep in the pedigree is a long list of classy group-winners including Hasabro (NZ) (Savabeel), Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel), All Saints’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), All Hallows’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), La Lagune (Danehill {USA}), Addictive Nature and Savvy Nature.
Moldova since producing Maldini has left a yearling colt by Toronado (Ire) and most recently was served by Justify (USA) last spring but unfortunately missed.
Maldini sold for $500,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Rosemont Stud/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Moody Racing Pty Ltd/Spicer Thoroughbreds being the successful purchaser from the draft of Milburn Creek.
Looking Back
Leg Drive (Grunt {NZ}) ran a very encouraging third on debut at Cranbourne, he stuck to his task well and looks like he will appreciate more ground.
Blanc De Noir (Capitalist) ran a solid third at Canterbury. She is putting some consistent runs together and looks close to a maiden win.
November Sun (The Autumn Sun) bolted in at Murwillumbah, she won in dominant fashion and will be running in much better races than this maiden.
