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 Friday. These include an Almanzor (Fr) filly running at Matamata, a well-related Shalaa (Ire) filly resumes at Canterbury and a consistent Russian Revolution mare deserves to win her maiden also at Canterbury.
Matamata, Race 3, 2.18pm AEDT (4.18pm local), Comag Mdn., $25,000, 1400m
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 second start at Matamata for Cambridge trainer Samantha Logan on Friday. She has looked smart at the trials and was placed 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}).
On debut she ran a solid fifth at Ellerslie on November 30 behind Fun Never Sets (Proisir), she didn’t have all favours that day and could be a quick improver from that effort.
This well-bred filly is the seventh foal from the Lonhro mare Shanro, who was unraced on the track. Shanro 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, including success 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 at 1200 metres at Awapuni.
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Ascension has some lovely stallion influences running through her blood including Montjeu (Ire), Iffraaj (GB), Straight Strike (USA), 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 who heads to the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale in the draft of Elsdon Park as Lot 285 and she was due to foal to Sword Of State in late October this year.
Ascension was bred and is raced by Brown Thoroughbreds Ltd and JML Bloodstock Ltd.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 6pm AEDT, James Squire Mdn H., $60,000, 1250m
Red Envelope, 3-year-old filly (Shalaa {Ire} x Madam Tracy {Encosta De Lago})
The well-bred Red Envelope (Shalaa {Ire}) is set to make her second start over 1250 metres for Randwick trainer’s Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at Canterbury on Friday. She disappointed on debut at Warwick Farm in June when running sixth, but she has since had a break and a couple of trials to prepare herself for her returning run as a 3-year-old.
Red Envelope is the sixth foal from Madam Tracy (Encosta De Lago). She was a winner at 1100 metres and has had some success as a broodmare already. She has left three winners including Hydrogen Power (The Autumn Sun), Penman (Written Tycoon) and Tracy May (Redoute’s Choice). She also comes from a very strong female family.
Shalaa (Ire) | Standing at Woodside Park Stud
She is a three-quarter-sister to Lake Superior (Encosta De Lago) who is the dam of the super iron-horse Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) who has been successful fifteen times including in seven Group 1 races. She is also a half-sister to the outstanding Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom) who was the Australian Horse of the Year and was an 11-time winner including in six Group 1 races, Red Element who was a dual Listed winning sprinter and stallion and the stakes-placed Kwilikwong (Red Ransom {USA}) and Tracy’s Choice (Redoute’s Choice).
Madam Tracy since producing Red Envelope has left a The Autumn Sun yearling filly and she foaled a colt by Vinery Stud’s consistent and proven stallion All Too Hard in October.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 6.30pm AEDT, Drinkwise Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1100m
Madam Instrife, 4-year-old mare (Russian Revolution x Abscond {Galileo {Ire}})
The Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained Madam Instrife (Russian Revolution) will travel to Canterbury on Friday to have her fourth start over 1100 metres. In all three of her starts she has run three very good placings. Her foot is right on the till and she looks ready to break through on Friday night with Tyler Schiller in the saddle.
The promising mare is by Newgate Stud Farm’s sire Russian Revolution and is the seventh foal from the Galileo (Ire) mare Abscond, who was a three-time winner on the track. She has then gone onto become an outstanding broodmare leaving three individual Group-winners including the Group 1 winner Invincibella (I Am Invincible), Secret Blaze (Sizzling) and Extreme Flight (Extreme Choice). She has also left Temolie (Star Witness) who has produced Aeliana (Castelvecchio) who has already been successful at Group 3-level and Group 1-placed and she looks to be one of the most exciting fillies in Australia.
Madam Instrife as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Madam Instrife has some lovely pedigree influences throughout including Sadler’s Wells (USA), Snitzel, Stravinsky (USA), Miswaki (USA), Zabeel (NZ), Snippets, Northern Dancer (Can) and Noble Bijou (USA).
Since producing Madam Instrife, Abscond has produced a 3-year-old filly by I Am Invincible named Mem’s Choice who was an impressive winner on debut at Bairnsdale, a yearling colt by Stay Inside and she most recently foaled a filly by I Am Invincible last month.
Madam Instrife sold for $850,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. with Dermot Farrington Bloodstock Pty Ltd being the successful purchaser from the draft of Sledmere Stud.
Looking Back
Seindeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) won nicely at Seymour, he had a lovely run and sprinted hard off that. A solid effort and he should only improve off this performance.
Scintillante (NZ) (Savabeel) ran a nice third, he was quite green but he did run on well once he balanced up.
