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 very promising Too Darn Hot (GB) filly chases Listed success at Flemington, a Time Test (GB) gelding that looked good at the trials makes his debut at Eagle Farm and a Farnan filly that is out of a half-sister to super stallion Extreme Choice makes her debut at Newcastle.
Flemington, Race 1, 12.45pm AEDT, Listed TAB Talindert Stakes, $175,000, 1100m
Sword Of Legacy, 2-year-old filly (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Kaiken {Exceed And Excel})
The well-bred Sword Of Legacy (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is set to make her third start over 1100 metres on her home track on Saturday for Flemington trainer Dominic Sutton. She has run outstanding races so far in her career, including a very good second behind Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) on debut down the straight at Flemington and then was nosed out in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes at Sandown by Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) on February 1.
Sword of Legacy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sword of Legacy is a daughter of the classy Too Darn Hot (GB) and is out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Kaiken. She is a half-sister to the New Approach (Ire) mare Sword Of Light who was classy on the track, winning five times including the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes and the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f). Another half-sibling is the Listed winning Medaglia D’Oro (USA) gelding Sword Of Justice.
The family is very current and is full of other Group winners including Flamberge (Exceed And Excel), Razor Blade (Blazing Sword), Sunburnt Land (Scenic {Ire}), Durendal (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Curtana (Exceed And Excel).
Since producing Sword Of Legacy, Kaiken has left a filly foal by Justify (USA) and was served by Harry Angel (Ire) last spring.
Sword Of Legacy was passed in short of her $220,000 reserve at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Eagle Farm, Race 1, 1.13pm AEDT (12.13pm local), Racecourse Village QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap, $85,000, 1300m
Atomic Time (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Time Test {GB} x Kerre {Ire} {Pour Moi {Ire}})
Eagle Farm is the venue for the debut of Atomic Time (NZ), a son of Time Test (GB) that is trained by the Bundall based Tony and Maddysen Sears. He looked talented when winning a trial impressively at the Gold Coast over 900 metres on January 28.
Atomic Time is the third foal from the Pour Moi (Ire) mare Kerre (Ire) who was placed on the track in Great Britain.
Atomic Time (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Kerre’s first foal is the very talented The Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) who raced in New Zealand as Pendragon (NZ). He had a very good 3-year-old season and was successful in the G2 Auckland Guineas and picked up a valuable placing in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
He comes from a very handy European family and a couple stallions feature deeper into the pedigree, including Authorized (Ire), Okawango (USA), Savile Row (NZ) and The Gurkha (Ire).
Kerre, since producing Atomic Time, has left a yearling colt by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) and was served by Farnan last spring.
Atomic Time sold for NZ$220,000 at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, with Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Catheryne Bruggeman, and Sears Racing being the successful purchaser from the draft of Leanach Lodge Ltd.
Newcastle, Race 1, 1.25pm AEDT, Bonvilla Architects Estate 2YO Maiden Handicap, $42,000, 900m
You’re The Choice, 2-year-old filly (Farnan x She’s Our Choice {Duporth})
The Brad Widdup-trained You’re The Choice (Farnan) will make her debut on Saturday at Newcastle over 900 metres. She trialled nicely at Rosehill on Feb 3 when placing second behind Rosie Rouge (I Am Invincible).
The promising filly is by Kia Ora Stud's exciting son of Not A Single Doubt in Farnan and is the fourth foal from the Duporth mare She’s Our Choice, who was unraced on the track. She is well-related though, being a half-sister to Newgate Stud Farm’s outstanding dual Group 1 sprint-winning son of Not A Single Doubt in Extreme Choice. So You’re The Choice has been very cleverly bred cross-wise by using a son of Not A Single Doubt over a mare that is a half-sister to a dual elite sprint winner by that sire.
You're The Choice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
There are some serious speed influences throughout in this pedigree, including Redoute’s Choice, Red Ransom (USA), Hussonet (USA), Success Express (USA) and Rory’s Jester.
Since producing You’re The Choice, She’s Our Choice has produced a yearling colt by Zoustar, a filly foal by Farnan and was subsequently served by him again last spring.
You’re The Choice was purchased from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft for $260,000 by Brad Widdup Racing at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Automne Tree (The Autumn Sun) - Was a deserved winner at Canterbury, he didn't win by a big margin but he did do it in nice style.
Miss Alexis (Dundeel {NZ}) - Ran an honest fourth at Moonee Valley, she made a long sustained run very wide out from back in the field and understandably her effort told in the end and she peaked on her run. She is one to follow with confidence in terms of winning a maiden soon.
