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 New Zealand and Australia on Wednesday. A Maurice (Jpn) 2-year-old filly chases maiden success at Riccarton, a well-bred Alabama Express filly makes her debut at Warwick Farm and a promising Needs Further gelding resumes at Belmont.
Riccarton, Race 4, 1.55pm AEDT (3.55pm local), The Tea House at Riccarton Park 2YO, $25,000, 1000m
Best Rose, 2-year-old filly (Maurice {Jpn} x Queen’s Legacy {Snitzel})
Best Rose, a 2-year-old daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s star shuttle stallion Maurice (Jpn), will make her second start at Riccarton for Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson on Wednesday. She was very brave when running second on debut at the same track on January 25 behind race-rival again Zelia (Fierce Impact {Jpn}). On that day she was caught wide throughout and showed good toughness. She may have to do the same again from another bad gate, but with any luck she will be right in the mix.
Best Rose as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
This promising filly is the second and sadly last foal from the unraced Snitzel mare Queen’s Legacy. She is very well-related, being a three-quarter-sister to the 2011 NZ Bloodstock filly of the year in King’s Rose (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) who in her outstanding career was successful in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas, G2 Royal Stakes, G2 WH Stocks Stakes, G2 Memsie Stakes, G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, G3 Eulogy Stakes and the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes.
She has then went on to become an international broodmare, producing Satono Arthur (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who has been a dual Group 3 winner and a Listed winner in Japan.
Other stakeswinners within this very good pedigree are Hardham, Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}), Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock), Anavinci (I Am Invincible), Roanoke (Danehill {USA}), Lofty Arch (Snitzel), Gybe (Fastnet Rock), Crosswinds (Written Tycoon), and The Blue Eye (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Warwick Farm, Race 3, 3.30pm AEDT, Captivant @ Kia Ora Maiden Handicap, $100,000, 1400m
Alabama Fox, 3-year-old filly (Alabama Express x Foxplay {Foxwedge})
The well-bred and promising Alabama Fox is set to make her debut over 1400 metres for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, after being scratched from Newcastle on Tuesday morning. She has looked talented at the trials, winning her last one in stylish fashion at Rosehill when beating Hampden (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) by 0.65l on February 3.
Alabama Fox as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Alabama Fox is by Alabama Express and is the third foal out of the very talented Foxwedge mare Foxplay, who was classy enough to win the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes. Her five wins also include the G2 Phar Lap Stakes, G2 Tea Rose Stakes, and G2 Furious Stakes.
Foxplay is also well-related, being a three-quarter-sister to the Listed-placed El Rocko (Fastnet Rock) and out of the American Listed winner Butters (USA) (El Prado {USA}).
Since producing Alabama Fox, Foxplay has left a yearling colt by Written Tycoon and was served last spring by Yulong Stud’s Pierata last spring.
Annabel Neasham Racing and Mitchell Bloodstock purchased Alabama Fox for $300,000 from the draft of Yulong at the 2023 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Belmont, Race 2, 5.19pm AEDT (2.19pm local), TabTouch - Have You Got The Touch Maiden, $25,000, 1400m
Superfluous, 3-year-old gelding (Needs Further x Tureen {Keep The Faith})
Superfluous, a son of Armidale Stud’s proven stallion Needs Further, will make his second start at Belmont for trainer Simon Miller on Wednesday. He ran a very good third on debut at Northam on October 23 last year when he attacked the line hard behind Petite Vitesse (Nicconi). He looks hard to beat in this maiden event and has prepared for his resuming run with a good trial win at Belmont on February 5 over 1000 metres.
Superfluous as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This well-bred colt is the eighth foal from the Keep The Faith mare Tureen, who was a three-time winner over 1400 metres and 1500 metres. She has proven to be a handy broodmare leaving six individual winners including Two Ducks Artie (Artie Schiller {USA}), Cullen Skink (Highland Reel {Ire}), Mirthdale (Magic Albert), Puissance Dusoleil (Puissance De Lune {Ire}), Molly Dook (Ambidexter) and Turn (Manhattan Rain).
Since producing Superfluous, Tureen has produced a 2-year-old filly by Highland Reel (Ire) before being retired from stud.
Superfluous was a $26,000 purchase by Simon Miller Racing from the Balcrest Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Looking Back
Brazen Diva (Brazen Beau) - ran a solid third at Kyneton, she showed plenty of speed and battled on well.
Alabama Fox (Alabama Express) - was unfortunately scratched from her event at Newcastle, instead she is running at Warwick Farm on Wednesday where again she is a The Thoroughbred Report Looking Ahead selection above.
