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 on Saturday. These include Extreme Choice and Wootton Bassett (GB) juvenile colts battling it out at Royal Randwick and a promising Brutal (NZ) filly chases maiden success at Wyong.
Royal Randwick, Race 1, 12.30pm AEDT, Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate, $160,000, 1000m
Devil Night, 2-year-old colt (Extreme Choice x Mischief Night {Shamardal {USA}})
Royal Randwick’s meeting will be the venue for the debut of the well-bred Devil Night. This promising juvenile looked smart winning a trial at Rosehill on December 10 when defeating More Revolution (Russian Revolution) over 900 metres.
The sharply bred colt is the fifth live foal from the Shamardal (USA) mare Mischief Night, who was unraced on the track but has started her stud career well leaving the six-time winner Our Playboy (Sebring) who has been successful in the G3 Vain S. and the G3 Winx Guineas and also the winner Royal Song (Your Song).
Devil Night as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Mischief Night is very well-related being a half-sister to the very promising stallion and Group 1 winner in Pierata. Other half-siblings include Ashokan (More Than Ready {USA}) who was successful in the G3 Skyline S. and Jet Propulsion - Master Delight (H.K.) who was placed in the G2 Stan Fox S. and the Listed Dulcify H. and was successful in Hong Kong and Australia.
Mischief Night has foaled a three-quarter brother to Devil Night by Stay Inside in October.
Devil Night sold for $1,400,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Highway Farm being the successful purchaser from the draft of Kingstar Farm.
Royal Randwick, Race 1, 12.30pm AEDT, Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate, $160,000, 1000m
Pallaton, 2-year-old colt (Wootton Bassett {GB} x Anevay {Exceed And Excel})
The well-bred Pallaton is set to make his debut over 1000 metres for trainer Michael Freedman at Royal Randwick on Saturday. He looked smart at the trials on the Randwick-Kensington course when defeating race-rival Quietly Arrogant (Capitalist) by 0.29l over 850 metres on December 9.
Pallaton is a son of Coolmore Stud’s outstanding shuttling stallion Wootton Bassett and this colt is part of his first Australian crop, he is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Anevay. She was a talented filly and won twice including the Listed Talindert S. She has already had some success at stud leaving four winners including the seven-time winner Akecheta (So You Think {NZ}), Sycorax (So You Think {NZ}), Yiska (Smart Missile) and Mix (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Wootton Bassett (GB) | Standing at Coolmore
Anevay is very well-related being a half-sister to the stallion Krupt who was also handy on the track winning as a juvenile the G2 Todman S.
Anevay since producing Pallaton has produced a yearling colt by Smart Missile.
Wyong, Race 3, 2.35pm AEDT, JT Project Group Classic Midway 3YO Mdn Plate, $45,000, 1100m
The Eyes Have It, 3-year-old filly (Brutal {NZ} x Katies Eyes {USA} {Leroidesanimaux {Brz}})
It's a great form line for this Nathan Doyle-trained filly who at her first start was runner-up and only beat narrowly in a Scone 900 metres contest. At her second start she ran a very solid fifth in the G3 Widden S. finishing behind Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) and Manaal (Tassort) - these fillies have since went on to become Group 1 winners as they subsequently won the G1 Golden Slipper and the G1 Inglis Sires Produce S. At her third start she ran a sound third behind the promising type Seascape (I Am Invincible) at Gosford on April 10.
She is resuming as a 3-year-old after having a nice break and a couple of trials in preparation for this maiden event.
The Eyes Have It as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Darby Bloodstock were the purchasers for $50,000 at last year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Newgate Farm. The Eyes have It is by Brutal out of the dual Listed American winner Katies Eyes (USA) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) who has produced two winners including Don’t Doubt Katie (Extreme Choice) and Bern Cat (USA) (Bernardini {USA})
Since producing The Eyes Have It, Katies Eyes has produced a Wild Ruler yearling colt who heads to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in the draft of Alma Vale Thoroughbred as Lot 555, and she most recently foaled a filly by the Cox Plate victor State Of Rest (Ire) in September.
Looking Back
Madam Instrife (Russian Revolution) won well at Canterbury.
Ascension (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) ran a solid fourth at Matamata.
Red Envelope (Shalaa {Ire}) drifted away to finish last of the field after travelling well throughout.
