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-olds are set to hit the track across Australia on Saturday. A Farnan filly makes her debut at Doomben after looking sharp at the trials, a Bivouac colt runs at Royal Randwick and an expensive Extreme Choice colt that is closely related to Pierata debuts at Caulfield.
Doomben, Race 1, 1.13pm, AEDT (12.13pm local), Racecourse Village QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap, $85,000, 1110m
Profoundly, 2-year-old filly (Farnan x Profound Wisdom {Al Samer})
Profoundly, a son of Kia Ora Stud’s exciting first-season sire Farnan, will be making her debut at Doomben on Saturday for trainer Lee Freedman. She has looked sharp winning two trials at the Gold Coast in preparation for this assignment and a bold debut showing would not be a surprise even with the dual winner Betterlucknexttime (Zousain) looking very hard to beat.
The well-bred filly is the fifth foal from the Al Samer mare Profound Wisdom, she was a two-time winner over 1400 metres and 1550 metres.
She has already proven to be a handy broodmare with all three of her runners to race being winners so far, the best of these has been the Capitalist gelding Sebonack who has been a two-time winner including in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes and managed a fourth placing in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes. Her other winners include Wealthofknowledge (Capitalist) and Indira (Rubick).
Profoundly as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Profound Wisdom is also well-related being a half-sister to the classy sprinter and now sire Santos, he was successful in the G2 Skyline Stakes and has already sired a Group 1 winner in Ulanova (NZ). Melagrana (Fastnet Rock) is another stakes-winning half-sibling and she was a seven-time winner in Japan including at Group 3 and Listed level.
Profoundly holds an interesting pedigree pattern duplicating the great stallion Redoute’s Choice 3 x 3, her sire Farnan is a grandson of Redoute’s Choice and her dam is by Al Samer, who is a son of Redoute’s Choice.
Profound Wisdom since producing Profoundly has left a yearling filly by Stay Inside, she then foaled a colt by Anamoe last spring and was subsequently served by Stay Inside.
Profoundly sold for $65,000 at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale with DLF Racing Services being the successful purchaser from the draft of Sledmere Stud.
Royal Randwick, Race 3, 1.40pm, AEDT, Listed Darley Lonhro Plate, $200,000, 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 second start for Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings on the back of some very strong trial form and a solid enough run on debut without a lot of luck.
He looked very sharp at the trials before he ran a ‘better than it looked’ seventh on debut at Randwick on January 25 behind Open Secret (King’s Legacy). He had to work hard from a wide barrier and was caught deep, he was right in the mix but the effort told late and he peaked on his run. It would be no surprise for him to reverse that form from an inside barrier in the hands of Adam Hyeronimus.
Bivouac standing at Darley | Image courtesy of Darley
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 Stakes and managed a placing in the G3 Quezette Stakes.
Beiwacht is a half-brother to the talented five-time winner Gravina (Sebring) who was successful in the Listed Village Stakes and Metastasio is also very well-related being a half-sister to the very talented Colette (Hallowed Crown) she collected some big wins in the G1 Australian Oaks and the G1 Empire Rose Stakes.
Metastasio since producing Beiwacht has foaled a yearling filly by Bivouac named Cafe Reine, a foal filly by Microphone and was subsequently served by Benbatl (GB) last spring.
Caulfield, Race 4, 1.55pm, AEDT, Group 3 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G), $350,000, 1100m
Devil Night, 2-year-old colt (Extreme Choice x Mischief Night {Shamardal {USA}})
Caulfield’s meeting will be the venue for the debut of the well-bred Devil Night. This promising juvenile looked smart winning a trial at Rosehill on December 10 when defeating More Revolution (Russian Revolution) over 900 metres and then he had a nice quiet trial at Warwick Farm on January 30 when running fifth behind the very promising Chergui (Frosted {USA}).
Devil Night as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The sharply-bred colt is by Extreme Choice and is the fifth live-foal from the Shamardal (USA) mare Mischief Night, who was unraced on the track but has started her stud career well leaving the six-time winner Our Playboy (Sebring) who has been successful in the G3 Vain Stakes and the G3 Winx Guineas as well as the winner Royal Song (Your Song).
Mischief Night is very well-related being a half-sister to the very promising stallion and Group 1 winner in Pierata, Ashokan (More Than Ready {USA}) who was successful in the G3 Skyline Stakes and Jet Propulsion - Master Delight (H.K.) who has been Group placed and has been successful in Hong Kong and Australia.
Mischief Night since producing Devil Night has foaled a Stay Inside colt in October and was most recently served by Extreme Choice.
Devil Night sold for $1,400,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Highway Farm being the successful purchaser from the draft of Kingstar Farm.
Looking Back
Perfect Justice (Justify {USA}) - won in dominant fashion at Canberra, he sat close to the pace and powered away to win by 2.07l, he appreciated the drop back in class and could kick on with it from here.
Kerber (I Am Invincible) - was scratched, she will keep for another day.
Just Like Gaby (Pierata) - won very nicely at Moonee Valley, she showed good speed, held a prominent spot and kicked away very nicely. She adds to her considerable value with that maiden win.
