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 New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. A Bivouac colt runs in Listed class at Trentham, a well-bred Savabeel colt debuts at Wyong and a Lonhro gelding looks ready to win at Kembla Grange.
Trentham, Race 4, 12.29pm AEDT (2.29pm local), Listed Star Group Wellesley S., $100,000, 1100m
Carsolio, 2-year-old colt (Bivouac x Whitehaven {Pierro})
Carsolio, a son of Darley Stud’s exciting first-season stallion Bivouac, will have his second start in this Listed 2-year-old event for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Trentham on Saturday. He ran a great race for second on debut when he was caught wide throughout at Tauherenikau behind his again race rival Abbakiss (Microphone) on November 10.
The dam of Carsolio is Whitehaven (Pierro), she only raced twice on the track and Carsolio is her second foal.
Carsolio as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This family is a bit quiet upfront but it has a lot of depth, some stakes performers further back within this pedigree include Vancouver, Captain Coltish (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), Skating (Danehill {USA}), Juste Momente (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), Swiss Exile (Pariah), Tenley (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), Biscayne Bay (Sebring), Murtajill and Bradbury’s Luck.
Carsolio sold for $350,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with D C Ellis CNZM BANZ being the successful purchaser from the Segenhoe Stud draft.
Wyong, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, CHeritage Real Estate 2YO H., $160,000, 1200m
Namaste (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Savabeel x Alam Mo Na {High Chaparral {Ire}})
Saturday’s Wyong meeting will serve as the venue for the debut of the promising colt Namaste (NZ), a son of Waikato Stud’s Champion Stallion Savabeel. He has looked smart at the trials when beating the very exiting Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at Warwick Farm on January 3 over 799 metres.
This well-bred colt is the second foal from the dual winning High Chaparral (Ire) mare Alam Mo Ma. Who has an interesting mix of speed and staying blood within her pedigree.
Alam Mo Ma is out of the very talented sprinting filly Queen Of The Hill (Danehill {USA}) who was a five-time winner over sprinting trips, she was successful in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S., G3 How Now S., and the Listed Talindert S.
Namaste (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
This family has so much depth to it further back with so many talented stakes performers including the outstanding sire Northern Meteor, Smart Missile, Rabbuka (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), Surge Ahead (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Kiss From A Rose (Encosta De Lago), Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}) and Sure Knee (Snitzel).
Alam Mo Ma since producing Namaste has left a yearling filly by Per Incanto (USA) and she was due to foal again to the son of Street Cry (Ire) last spring.
Namaste was a NZ$525,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 6, 4.53pm AEDT, Cleaning World Wollongong Midway Mdn Plate, $45,000, 1500m
Cold Brew, 3-year-old gelding (Lonhro x Connemara {Fastnet Rock})
The promising Cold Brew, is set to make his third start over 1500 metres for Rosehill trainers Richard and Will Freedman at Kembla Grange on Saturday. On debut he ran a very nice second at Newcastle behind the very well-bred Lough Eske (I Am Invincible) over 1200 metres on December 19 and then he backed up that run with a very good second at Canterbury behind Goodlucktome (Written Tycoon) on January 1. The step up to 1500 metres looks like it will suit, and he looks very hard to beat.
Cold Brew is by Lonhro and is the first foal out of the Fastnet Rock mare Connemara, who was a four-time winner on the track. She was classy enough to also place in the G3 Birthday Card S., G3 Tibbie S., and the Listed Mona Lisa S.
Connemara is well-related being a half-sister to Tawteen (Stratum) who has been a seven-time winner including at Listed level and Well Sprung (Star Witness) who was also successful at Listed level amongst his four wins.
Cold Brew as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Cold Brew has some outstanding international pedigree influences deeper in his pedigree, his grandam was a Group 3 winner in America and is by the very good sire Grand Slam (USA). Other notable stallions that feature are Gone West (USA), El Gran Senor (USA), Lord At War (Arg), Sadler’s Wells (USA), Daylami (Ire) and Shirley Heights (GB).
Since producing Cold Brew, Connemara has left a 2-year-old colt by Capitalist that has been exported to New Zealand, a yearling filly by Stay Inside who sold to Dalziel Racing and Moody Racing for $280,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and most recently she foaled an Anamoe colt in October and she was subsequently served by Stay Inside.
Yong An Australia was the purchaser of Cold Brew for $170,000 from the draft of Fernrigg Farm at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Captain Stan (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) - ran a solid race for second at Tauranga, he led throughout and was only run down late in the piece.
Secret Elegance (Snitzel) - ran an okay race for fifth at Pakenham. She ran honestly again.
