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 Australia on Friday. A well-bred Blue Point (Ire) filly makes her debut at Moonee Valley, a promising Savabeel colt chases maiden success at Canterbury and an expensive Zoustar filly makes her debut at Canterbury.
Moonee Valley, Race 1, 6.15pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Form Genius Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1200m
Jasmina, 3-year-old filly (Blue Point (Ire) x Mandayana {Zoustar})
Friday’s Moonee Valley meeting will serve as the venue for the debut in the career of Jasmina, a well-bred daughter of Blue Point (Ire) from the Danny O’Brien stable at Flemington. She has had plenty of jump-out experience where she has shown good ability and looks ready to run well on debut in the hands of jockey Daniel Stackhouse.
Jasmina is the second foal out of Mandayana (Zoustar). She was placed on the track and at stud has already had success leaving Lowlands (Exceed And Excel) who has been a winner at Sale already in her career. She holds Khan (Exceed and Excel) as a half-sibling; he was successful in the Listed Breeders’ Plate.
Blue Point (Ire) | Standing at Darley VIC
Mandayana’s dam Mandawara (Fr) (Daylami {Ire}) was unraced on the track but is a three-quarter-sister to Manndawi (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) who was a two-time winner and stakes-placed in Australia, France and Ireland. She is also a half-sister to Manighar (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who was such a tough and talented racehorse winning 10 times from 1600 metres to 3000 metres with the best of his wins being in the G1 Ranvet Stakes, G1 BMW Stakes and the G1 Australian Cup.
Mandayana since producing Jasmina has left a 2-year-old filly by Frosted (USA) and she foaled a filly by Churchill (Ire) last spring.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 6pm AEDT, TAB 2YO Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1200m
Namaste (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Savabeel x Alam Mo Na {High Chaparral {Ire}})
Canterbury’s Friday meeting will serve as the venue for the second start for the promising colt Namaste (NZ), a son of Waikato Stud’s Champion sire Savabeel. He ran a solid race for third on debut at Wyong on January 11 behind Kujenga (King’s Legacy) and he raced a bit green, so with natural improvement he should be very hard to beat in this event.
This well-bred colt is the second foal from the dual High Chaparral (Ire) mare Alam Mo Na. Who has an interesting mix of speed and staying blood within her pedigree.
Namaste (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Alam Mo Na 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 Stakes, G3 How Now Stakes, and the Listed Talindert Stakes.
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 Na 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/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 6.30pm AEDT, Drinkwise 3YO Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1250m
All Eyes On Her, 3-year-old filly (Zoustar x Sexy Eyes {Written Tycoon})
The Chris Waller-trained Zoustar filly All Eyes On Her will be making her debut at Canterbury on Friday over 1250 metres. She has had plenty of educational trials and has looked to have her fair share of ability.
This well-bred filly is the second foal out of the Written Tycoon mare Sexy Eyes, who was a six-time winner from 1100 metres to 1600 metres including in the G3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes and the Listed Weetwood Handicap.
All Eyes on Her as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sexy Eyes has made a great start to her broodmare career with her first foal Northern Eyes (Zoustar) selling for $1,250,000 to Tom Magnier from the draft of Milburn Creek. He has gone on to be a four-time winner so far in his racing career with the strong prospect of being able to add to that record.
Since producing All Eyes On Her, Sexy Eyes has produced a Farnan 2-year-old filly named You Sexy Thing that sold for $500,000, a yearling filly by Snitzel and was served by the in-form Wootton Bassett (GB) last spring.
All Eyes On Her was an expensive $1 million purchase by K Yoshida from the draft of Milburn Creek at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Lighthouse Lass (Capitalist) - won in stylish fashion at Scone, she settled well back but charged home along the inside to win nicely.
Saraqael (Flying Artie) - It may have only been a four horse field but Saraqael was impressive, he led all the way and won with ease defeating the $1.35 favourite by 2.08l
Forceofone (NZ) (Super Seth) was unfortunately scratched, he will keep for another day.
