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 2-year-old runners are set to hit the track across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. A promising Bivouac colt makes his debut at Royal Randwick, a talented Spirit Of Boom colt chases his first stakes victory at Sandown and a lovely Zoustar filly chases success in the TAB Karaka Millions.
Royal Randwick, Race 1, 1.05pm AEDT, The Agency Real Estate H., $160,000, 1000m
Beiwacht, 2-year-old colt (Bivouac x Metastasio {Street Cry {Ire}})
Beiwacht, a son of Darley Stud’s exciting first-season stallion Bivouac, will make his debut for Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings on the back of some very strong trial form. He has won his last two trials in impressive fashion at Warwick Farm and Hawkesbury and looks to be educated well and has shown plenty of ability ahead of his debut.
The dam of Beiwacht is Metastasio (Street Cry {Ire}), she was two-time winner with both of those coming as a juvenile. She was successful in the Listed Chairman’s S. and managed a placing in the G3 Quezette S.
Bivouac | Standing at Darley
Beiwacht is a half-brother to the talented five-time winner Gravina (Sebring) who was successful in the Listed Village S. and Metastasio is also very well-related being a half-sister to the very talented Colette (Hallowed Crown) her career highlights come when she was victorious in the G1 Australian Oaks and the G1 Empire Rose S.
Beiwacht has some lovely pedigree influences throughout his pedigree including Danehill (USA), More Than Ready (USA), Elusive Quality (USA), Marscay, Machiavellian (USA), Singspiel (Ire), Caerleon (USA) and Northern Dancer (Can).
Metastasio since producing Beiwacht has foaled a yearling filly by Bivouac, recently foaled a filly by Microphone and was subsequently served by Benbatl (GB) last spring.
Sportsbet Sandown Lakeside, Race 3, 1.20pm AEDT, Sportsbet Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (Chute), $250,000, 1000m
Shining Smile, 2-year-old colt (Spirit Of Boom x Nataya Rose {Canny Lad})
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Spirit Of Boom colt Shining Smile will be making his fourth start at Sandown on Saturday over 1000 metres and is searching for his first black-type success.
Shining Smile has had three previous starts and brings very strong form lines to the juvenile event. At Flemington he ran second on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. and then backed up that effort again at Flemington with a good third in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate on November 5. He then broke through to win his maiden on the Caulfield Heath with ease on November 20. After a little break he has prepared for this event with two nice jump outs at Flemington and Werribee and he should be hard to beat.
Shining Smile as a weanling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Shining Smile is out of the unraced mare Nataya Rose (Canny Lad), she has so far left four individual winners including Shining Smile himself, Eee Pee Cee (So You Think {NZ}), Wonder Win (Pierro) and So Nataya (So You Think). She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Gold Anthem (Made Of Gold {USA}) who left 12-individual winners including the globetrotting outstanding sprinter and shuttling stallion Starspangledbanner who was a 4-time Group 1 winner. Another half-sister is Circles Of Ice (Marauding {NZ}) who left the Listed winners Tagine (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Marcado (Choisir).
This family has so much depth and there are many other top class group winners within the pedigree including the Group 1 winners and stallions Elvstroem and Haradasun as well as Amicus (Fastnet Rock), Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Chief Little Rock (Ire) (Galileo) and Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth).
Nataya Rose since producing Shining Smile has left a Zousain yearling colt and she most recently foaled a colt by Profiteer in September this year and was subsequently served by Pinatubo (Ire).
Shining Smile was a $160,000 purchase by Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Robyn Wise at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Ellerslie, Race 4, 4.23pm AEDT (6.23pm local), R. Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO., NZ$1,000,000, 1200m
Belle Du Monde, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Lady Cartier {Fastnet Rock})
The well-related Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) makes her third start in the feature juvenile event at Ellerslie on Saturday over 1200 metres. She has run two lovely seconds in her career so far including behind the very talented Storm Front (NZ) (Snitzel) and another one behind the very promising Remala (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}). Both of these races were at Ellerslie, so she has plenty of experience around the course ahead of the big one where she looks a solid chance at good value.
Belle Du Monde is by Zoustar and is out of Lady Cartier (Fastnet Rock) who is a three-quarter-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and the Listed winning gelding Groundswell (Fastnet Rock). She is also a half-sister to the talented gelding Rustic Steel (Deep Field) who has been successful nine-times including the G3 Newcastle Newmarket H. and the Listed Scone Cup.
Belle Du Monde as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Belle Du Monde holds an interesting pedigree pattern duplicating the great mare Shantha’s Choice 4 x 3, her sire Zoustar is out of a Redoute’s Choice (who is out of Shantha's Choice) mare and her direct third dam herself is Shantha’s Choice.
Other classy performers that feature in this pedigree are the stallions Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Echoes Of Heaven and Platinum Scissors and the talented group-winners Schwarz (Zoustar), Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt), Summer Monsoon (Stratum) and Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}),
Lady Cartier since producing Belle Du Monde has foaled a colt by Almanzor (Fr) earlier this spring and was subsequently served by Almanzor again.
Belle Du Monde was originally a $220,000 purchase by Kaha Nui Farm from the draft of Tyreel Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. She was then a successful pinhook when selling from the Kaha Nui Farm draft for $400,000 to Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Chilli Crab (Written Tycoon) - ran a great race for second on debut at Port Macquarie, she attacked the line hard late and looks like she will not be in maiden class for long. Is one to watch off that effort.
Just Like Gaby (Pierata) - resumed in nice fashion to run second at Moonee Valley, she did her best work late and should iprove off that run.
Some Style (Exceed And Excel) - ran a solid third, she is running very honest races and may appreciate more distance.
