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 Thursday. These include a promising Contributer (Ire) gelding running at Te Rapa and a progressive Ardrossan filly runs at the same venue. A Doubtland juvenile then chases maiden success at Seymour.
Te Rapa, Race 1, 10.53am AEDT (12.53pm local), Waikato Draught Mdn., $18,500, 1400m
Penman (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Contributer {Ire} x Update {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
The well-related Penman (NZ) is set to make his third start over 1400 metres for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh at Te Rapa on Thursday. He has run second at both of his career starts at Rotorua and looks a handy type that will keep on improving, if he can get some luck from the wide gate, he should be hard to beat.
Penman is a son of Mapperley Stud’s ill-fated stallion Contributer and is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Update (NZ). She was only placed on the track but holds a very strong and deep pedigree page.
Penman (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Update is a full sister to Irlanda (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who was a very talented mare, she was a six-time winner from 1200 metres to 1600 metres and she was the heroine in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S., G3 Eulogy S. and the Listed Lion Red Plate.
As mentioned earlier Update has a very deep page, other outstanding stakes performers that feature are the dual Group 1-winning sire Mo’unga (NZ) as well as Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth), Phelan The Power (NZ) (Power {GB}), Milford Sound (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Chandelier (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel), Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) and Chenille (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
Penman sold at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale with Toru Bloodstock being the successful purchaser for NZ$60,000 from the draft of Mapperley Stud Ltd. He was reoffered at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale but failed to make his NZ$80,000 reserve.
Te Rapa, Race 3, 12.07pm AEDT (2.07pm local), Race A Horse With Te Akau 3YO Mdn., $18,500, 1200m
Cardi Bee (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Ardrossan x Classyas {NZ} {Rios {NZ}})
Cardi Bee (NZ), a daughter of Waikato Stud’s promising stallion Ardrossan, will make her second start at Te Rapa on Thursday for in-form trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. On debut she raced very well for fourth at Matamata on December 20 over 1200 metres behind the very promising Tardelli (I Am Invincible) who added to this form line when he was subsequently placed in the G2 Levin Classic last weekend.
Cardi Bee is the first foal from the placed Rios (NZ) mare Classyas (NZ), who is a half-sister to the five-time winner Diamond Girl (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop {NZ}) and the two-time winner Macs (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Ardrossan | Standing at Waikato Stud
The family page is a bit quiet in terms of having Group performers within the pedigree but her page does have some lovely stallion influences including Last Tycoon (Ire), Redoute’s Choice, Pivotal (GB), Mr. Prospector (USA), Semipalatinsk (USA), Mill Reef (USA) and Marscay.
Cardi Bee does have a duplication of Last Tycoon that comes through Ardrossan's damline and then through her broodmare sire Rios. This enables a very effective and proven double-up of the very influential mare Best In Show (USA).
Classyas since producing Cardi Bee, has produced a foal filly by Armory (Ire) last August.
Bet365 Seymour, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Parker Bros Earthmoving 2YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
Tom, 2-year-old gelding (Doubtland x Tripled {General Nediym})
Seymour is the venue for the promising Tom to make his second start for Pakenham based trainer Phillip Stokes on Thursday. He debuted well at Moonee Valley on December 28 when placing second behind the very promising Field Of Play (Deep Field) over 1200 metres.
Tom is by Widden Victoria's exciting first-season sire Doubtland who has already sired a winner from only two runners, and is the ninth live foal out of the General Nediym mare Tripled, who only raced twice on the track.
Doubtland | Standing at Widden Victoria
She has proven to be successful as a broodmare leaving six winners including Split Jete (Scissor Kick), Meg’s Magic (Squamosa), Triple The Fun (Snitzel), Major Rush (Snitzel), Triple Effort (Sharkbite) and Miss Parmigiana (Snitzel).
Since producing Tom, Tripled was due to foal to Doubtland again last spring.
Looking Back
Bold Bidder (Fastnet Rock) - did things a bit wrong on debut at Randwick-Kensington. After missing the kick slightly, he worked forward and led at a fast pace, he then peaked on his run and battled away solidly to run fourth.
Cold Brew (Lonhro) - ran a very good second at Randwick-Kensington, he had a nice run throughout, presented well and chased hard in the straight.
Pula (Pierro) - ran a great race on debut running second, she was only run down late and put up a brave effort after being left out in front a long way from home.
