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 Wednesday. A promising Snitzel filly looks to break through at Matamata, a Trapeze Artist gelding that has looked sharp at the trials makes his debut at Doomben and a beautifully bred I Am Invincible filly runs at the Randwick-Kensington track.
Matamata, Race 2, 12.45pm AEDT (2.45pm local), Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Mdn 2YO., $25,000, 1200m
In Haste, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Prompt {Exceed And Excel})
The superbly-bred In Haste is set to make her second start over 1200 metres for Matamata trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Matamata on Wednesday. She ran a great race on debut for a second placing at Ellerslie on November 30 when beaten by the Karaka Millions candidate in Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan).
In Haste is a daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s Champion stallion Snitzel and is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Prompt who only raced three times. As a broodmare however she has been outstanding leaving six winners, the best of these have been the Beneteau mare Prompt Response. She was a six-time winner and her wins included the G1 Tattersalls Tiara, G2 Emancipation S., G2 Breeders’ Classic, G2 Dane Ripper S. and the Listed Twilight Glow S.
In Haste as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Her other winners include Prompt Return (Beneteau) who won seven-times including the G3 Maribyrnong P. and Diamond Glow (Bel Esprit) who was a smart two-year-old placing in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (f)
The family has stayed in the news as Prompt Response has been a star at stud and in the sales ring, all from the draft of Widden Stud, her first foal Big Demeanor (I Am Invincible) sold for $500,000 to Annabel Neasham/Brian McGuire at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Sister Cynane sold for $1,300,000 to Wexford Stables at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and Plaintiff sold for $2,300,000 to James Harron Bloodstock at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Prompt is still breeding but has had some bad luck since producing In Haste, unfortunately she has not left a live foal since but was served by Stay Inside last spring.
Ladbrokes Racing Club/Newgate Bloodstock was the purchaser of In Haste for $400,000 from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Doomben, Race 2, 3.13 AEDT (2.13pm local), Become A BRC Member QTIS Three-Year-Old Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Busker, 3-year-old gelding (Trapeze Artist x Street Made (Can) {Street Boss {USA})
Busker, a son of Widden Stud’s stallion Trapeze Artist, will make his debut at the Sunshine Coast for trainer Robert Heathcote. He has looked talented at the trials having won two of them nicely at Doomben throughout November and December.
This promising gelding is the second foal from the Street Boss USA) mare Street Made (Can}, who was a two-time winner and placed twice at Listed level in Canada. She has made a good start to her stud career with her first foal Rickythesteamboat (Rubick) already being a winner over 1350 metres.
Busker as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Busker has some strong stallion pedigree influences that are both international and colonial, stallions that are prominent include Danehill (USA), Domesday, Bletchingly, Street Cry (Ire), In Reality (USA), Mr. Prospector (USA) and Snippets.
Since producing Busker, Street Made has left a two-year-old gelding by Exceedance named Street Legal, a yearling filly by Wild Ruler who heads to the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale as Lot 690 from the draft of Glenlogan Park and was served last spring by In The Congo.
Busker was passed in at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when falling short of his $70,000 reserve.
Randwick Kensington, Race 1, 2.55pm AEDT, Hawaii Five Oh @ Vinery Stud Mdn H., $100,000, 1250m
Sensational Wind, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Gust Of Wind (NZ) {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
Randwick-Kensington’s Wednesday 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 famously 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 twice 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 (GB)
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.
Looking Back
Homecoming (Exceed And Excel) - ran a solid race for third at Yarra Valley.
Magical Elegance (Can) - was a bit unlucky running fifth at Newcastle. She was caught wide throughout and loomed up but just peaked on her run. She should improve off that.
