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 exciting runners are set to hit the track across Australia on Friday. A promising The Autumn Sun gelding looks hard to beat at Canterbury and a well-bred Dundeel (NZ) filly chases maiden success at Moonee Valley.
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 6.30pm AEDT, The Agency Real Estate Maiden Handicap, $60,000, 1550m
Automne Tree, 3-year-old gelding (The Autumn Sun x Sarzameen (Fr) {Siyouni{Fr}})
The well-related The Autumn Sun gelding, Automne Tree is set to make his third start for trainer Chris Waller at Canterbury on Friday night.
He has run two very solid races at Canterbury and Warwick Farm respectively finishing fourth and second, he only narrowly missed winning at Warwick Farm on January 27 last time behind Railway Man (I Am Invincible).
Automne Tree as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This promising gelding is the second foal of the Siyouni (Fr) mare Sarzameen so he has Aga Khan influences through both his sire and his dam. The best of the gallopers that feature within his international pedigree are Gold Trip (Fr) who was successful in the G1 Turnbull Stakes and the G1 Melbourne Cup and now stands at Lovatsville Stud in Victoria.
Sarzameen’s first foal is the talented gelding The Great Houdini (Written Tycoon) who has won three times and a tick over $120,000 prizemoney. Unfortunately Sarzameen only left one further progeny after Automne Tree before she passed away and that is a 2-year-old colt named Kharif (The Autumn Sun) who is trained by Ciaron Maher.
Automne Tree was a $160,000 purchase by Mulcaster Bloodstock/Chris Waller Racing from the draft of Robyn Wise at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Moonee Valley, Race 2, 6.45pm AEDT, Quest Moonee Valley Maiden Plate, $60,000, 1600m
Miss Alexis, 3-year-old filly (Dundeel {NZ} x Jameka {Myboycharlie {Ire}})
The Ciaron Maher-trained Miss Alexis (Dundeel {NZ}) will travel to Moonee Valley on Friday night to have her second start over 1600 metres. On debut at Pakenham on January 23 she ran a solid fourth behind Storm Ahead (Trapeze Artist).
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Miss Alexis is the third foal from the outstanding Myboycharlie (Ire) staying mare Jameka, she was a star on the track managing six wins and all of these were stakes wins including the G1 Caulfield Cup, G1 BMW Stakes, G1 VRC Oaks, G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, G2 Dilmah Vase Stakes and the G3 Naturalism Stakes. She has already had success at stud leaving the two-time metropolitan winner in Sir Bailey (Impending) who also ran fourth in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude and the Listed Valley Pearl Stakes and the promising dual winner Federer (Dundeel {NZ}).
Jameka, since producing Miss Alexis, has produced a 2-year-old filly named Adira River (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and she was most recently served by Anamoe last spring.
Looking Back
California Command (Deep Field) - ran an okay race for fifth at Wyong, he didn't have a lot of luck early in the home straight but only battled late in the piece.
Take Achance On Me (Snitzel) - was very disappointing at Wyong, she didn't fire a shot today.
Miss Alexis (Dundeel {NZ}) - was scratched from Pakenham, instead she runs at Moonee Valley on Friday where she is again a The Thoroughbred Report Looking Ahead selection.
