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 Friday, including expensive 3-year-olds by Justify (USA) and I Am Invincible running at Canterbury Park and a well-bred Fastnet Rock filly chases maiden success at Pakenham.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 6.15pm AEDT, Bisley Workwear Mdn H., $60,000, 1250m
Gatekeeper, 3-year-old gelding (Justify {USA} x Nakeeta Jane {So You Think {NZ}})
The Chris Waller-trained Justify gelding Gatekeeper will be making his debut at Canterbury Park on Friday. He showed some good promise when running second at the Rosehill trials on January 7 over 1030 metres behind Automne Tree (The Autumn Sun).
This well-bred gelding is out of the So You Think (NZ) mare Nakeeta Jane, who was a three-time winner from 1200 metres to 1400 metres including in the G1 Surround S. and the G2 Light Fingers S. She also showed her class placing in the G1 Flight S. and the G1 Randwick Guineas.
Gatekeeper’s grandam Lustre Lady (Flying Spur) was also a handy mare winning twice and placing in the G2 Breeders Classic, Listed Angst S. and the Listed Belle Of The Turf S.
Gatekeeper as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has also been a very solid producer at stud leaving six individual winners including Nakeeta Jane, Talisa (Manhattan Rain), Cyrus Rocks (Bernardini {USA}), Bold Temptation (Encosta De Lago), Layton Abbey (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Mindspace (So You Think {NZ}).
Since producing Gatekeeper, Nakeeta Jane has produced a 2-year-old colt and a yearling colt both by Wootton Bassett (GB) and then was exported to America in April last year after missing to Justify.
Gatekeeper was a $700,000 purchase by Guy Mulcaster/Chris Waller Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 6.15pm AEDT, Bisley Workwear Mdn H., $60,000, 1250m
Sensational Wind, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Gust Of Wind {NZ} {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
Canterbury Park’s Friday meeting will serve as the venue for the second start for the well-bred filly Sensational Wind. She raced once as a juvenile and ran a solid fifth at Rosehill on July 20 behind the talented Mayfair (Fastnet Rock). After a nice break she has prepared for this assignment with a quiet trial at Newcastle on December 12 behind Oakfield Saturn (American Pharoah {USA}).
Sensational Wind is by Australia’s Champion Sire in I Am Invincible and she has a strong pedigree with her page full of influential international and colonial stallions including Zabeel (NZ), Darci Brahma (NZ), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Canny Lad, Zoffany (USA), Sadler’s Wells (USA) and Shirley Heights (GB). Many of these stallions have strong staying blood and performance so it is expected that Sensational Wind will improve with a bit of time and distance.
Sensational Wind as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Her dam Gust Of Wind (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was very talented and was the last horse to beat the Champion Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) when she was successful in the G1 Australian Oaks. She has made a successful start to her broodmare career leaving Transatlantic (Snitzel) who has won five times and been Listed placed and Sirocco Gale (Snitzel) who has been a winner over 1400 metres.
Since producing Sensational Wind, Gust of Wind has produced a Stay Inside yearling colt, a Dundeel (NZ) filly foal and was most recently served last spring by Wootton Bassett.
Sensational Wind was a $1,100,000 purchase by K Yoshida from the draft of Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 5, 7.45pm AEDT, Brandt Pakenham John Deere Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1600m
Rose Diamond, 3-year-old filly (Fastnet Rock x Love Charm {GB} {Singspiel {Ire}})
Pakenham’s Friday meeting will be the venue for the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained well-bred filly, Rose Diamond to have her fourth start. On debut she ran a sound third behind Sounds Fun (Grunt {NZ}) where she made ground well in the straight, she then failed at Caulfield before running another nice race at Cranbourne on December 20 for second behind Party Whip (Americain {USA}) over the mile distance.
Rose Diamond is by the outstanding Fastnet Rock and is out of the Singspiel (Ire) mare Love Charm (GB), she has a strong international pedigree with her page full of influential stallions including Danehill (USA), Royal Academy (USA), Sadler’s Wells (USA), Caerleon (USA), Halo (USA) and Sir Tristram (Ire).
Love Charm has had some success as a producer leaving four individual winners that have won races in France, Kuwait, Great Britain and Qatar these include First View (Ire) (Exceed And Excel), Cry Wolf (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), Endless Gold (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Romantic Heart (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Fastnet Rock
Rose Diamond has a deep-extended pedigree, some of the top-class Group performers within this top-class pedigree are Wareed (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), Truly A Dream (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), Dream Peace (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), Herman Hesse (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Only Mine (Ire) (Pour Moi {Ire}) and Words (Ire) (Dansili). Adding to this are some outstanding Group 1 winners including Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Colette (Hallowed Crown), Naval Crown (GB), Wellington (All Too Hard), Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
Love Charm since producing Rose Diamond, has produced a yearling colt by Acrobat and was served last spring by D’Argento.
Rose Diamond was withdrawn from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Penman (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) - won nicely at Te Rapa, after working from his wide gate he got a lovely spot and was dominant in the end. It was a deserved maiden success.
Cardi Bee (NZ) (Ardrossan) - was very impressive winning at Te Rapa, she settled well back but pounced quickly in the home straight. She looks a filly with good promise.
Tom (Doubtland) - was a bit unlucky running third at Seymour, he was trapped three wide with no cover, but was very brave and he lost no admirers with that effort
