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.
Two promising So You Think (NZ) geldings are set to hit the track at Kilmore on Tuesday. One is out of a Listed placed Lonhro mare and he looks to break his maiden over 1212 metres, and a promising stayer that is out of a Stormy Road (Ire) half-sister to a Group 1 winner has his second start over 1462 metres.
Bet365 Park Kilmore, Race 4, 3pm AEDT, Bet365 Never Ordinary Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1212m
Stairway, 4-year-old gelding (So You Think {NZ} x Babel {Lonhro})
The Ballarat based-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy saddle up Stairway (So You Think {NZ}) to make his third start over 1212 metres at Kilmore on Tuesday.
On debut, he ran a solid fifth as favourite on the Ballarat Synthetic track on May 24 last year behind Pride Of Proisir (NZ) (Proisir). He was then straight away put out for a break, and has looked like he has come back well going by his recent trials and jump outs, and his resuming run for fourth at Pakenham on January 23 behind Gibraltar Tycoon (Written Tycoon) was solid.
Stairway as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This promising gelding is the fifth foal from the Lonhro mare Babel, who was a five-time on the track and classy enough to place in the Listed Belle Of the Turf Stakes. She has made a promising start to her broodmare career leaving three winners, including Translator (Helmet), Shinar (Bernardini {USA}), and Statesmanship (So You Think {NZ})
Some other group performers that feature in the pedigree are Any Day Will Do (Any Given Saturday {USA}), Centainette (NZ) (Centaine), Seascay (NZ), Littorio (Bellotto {USA}), and Camino Rocoso (NZ) (Shocking).
Babel, since producing Stairway, has produced a 3-year-old gelding by Dundeel (NZ) named Gunner who was placed at Yarra Valley at his last start, a yearling colt by Tiger Of Malay, and was served by Hanseatic last spring.
Stairway was a $200,000 purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing andBelmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the draft of Rothwell Park Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bet365 Park Kilmore, Race 5, 3.30pm AEDT, Beraldo Coffee Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1462m
Analytical, 3-year-old gelding (So You Think {NZ} x Stormy Road {Ire} {Gale Force Ten {GB}})
The well-related Analytical is set to have his second start over 1462 metres for Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani at Kilmore on Tuesday.
This promising gelding ran very well on debut at Camperdown on January 18 when running third behind Nizhoni (Sioux Nation {USA}). He charged home from well back in the field that day and does look like a horse that will make a very handy stayer in time.
Analytical as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Analytical is a son of Coolmore Stud’s international superstar in So You Think (NZ) and is out of the Gale Force Ten (GB) mare Stormy Road (Ire), who was a winner as a juvenile. She has already left the four-time winner Ruminate (So You Think {NZ}).
Stormy Road is very well related, being a half-sister to the very talented Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}); on the track he was successful seven times from 1200 metres up to 2400 metres, including in the G1 Turnbull Stakes and the Listed Mornington Cup, and he was also placed at the top level in the G1 Memsie Stakes, G1 Makybe Diva Stakes, G1 Turnbull Stakes, and the G1 Orr Stakes.
Another half-sibling is Ashka (Ire) (Catcher In The Rye {Ire}), who was a winner and was Listed-placed in Ireland.
Stormy Road, since producing Analytical, has left a yearling colt by Nicconi, and most recently foaled a filly by Churchill (Ire) in September this spring before subsequently being served again by the same sire.
Analytical failed to meet his reserve of $80,000 at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Camilla (Lonhro) - ran a moderate fifth at Newcastle, she only battled away in the straight and hopefully improves next time.
Magical Elegance (Can) (Good Magic {USA}) - won in lovely fashion at Newcastle, she has an amazing international pedigree and has added to her value significantly with that maiden win.
Appointed (NZ) (Super Seth) - won very well at Caulfield, he flew home from back in the field to record a lovely victory. He looks like he may even appreciate further and is one to watch.
