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-old runners are set to debut on the track across New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. A promising Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly takes her place at Ellerslie, a King's Legacy filly looks hard to beat at Otaki and a promising Better Than Ready colt chases debut success at Doomben after trialling sharply.
Ellerslie, Race 1, 11am AEDT (1pm local), TAB Maiden 2YO, $40,000, 1100m
Lucy In The Sky (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Hello Youmzain (Fr) x Too Many Diamonds (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ})
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will prepare the Cambridge Stud owned and bred filly Lucy In The Sky (NZ) to debut at Ellerslie on Saturday over 1100 metres.
She looked smart at the Ellerslie trials on February 11 when defeating Estilo (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) in stylish fashion by 1.5l.
Hello Youmzain (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Lucy In The Sky is by Cambridge Stud’s promising shuttling stallion Hello Youmzain (Fr), and is the sixth live-foal out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Too Many Diamonds (NZ). She was unraced on the track but holds a very strong pedigree and has been a successful broodmare.
The best of her progeny has clearly been Ruud Not Too (NZ) (Bernardini {USA}), she was a six-time winner at 1100 metres to 1600 metres and was successful in the G2 Rich Mile, she has then gone onto produce Cottee (Merchant Navy) who has been a winner at Listed level at Eagle Farm.
Her other winners include Diamonds Galore (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Cast Of Diamonds (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}) and Catch A Thief (NZ) (One Cool Cat {USA}).
Unfortunately Lucy In The Sky was Too Many Diamond’s last foal as she ceased breeding in 2023.
Otaki, Race 2, 11.15am AEDT (1.15pm local), Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock 2YO, $40,000, 1200m
Queen’s Evidence (NZ), 2-year-old filly (King’s Legacy x Enjay (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire})
The well-related Queen’s Evidence (NZ) is set to make her debut on Saturday over 1200 metres for Te Akau trainer’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Otaki. She has prepared for her debut with three trials and she looked talented winning her last one at Ellerslie on February 11 when defeating Retro (NZ) (Proisir) by 0.75l over 800 metres.
Queen’s Evidence is a daughter of Coolmore Stud’s exciting King’s Legacy and is out of the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Enjay (NZ) who was a two-time winner on the track at 1600 metres and 2100 metres.
Queen's Evidence (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She has already proven to be a reliable broodmare having left three winners including the four-time winner Familia (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), who has also placed in the G2 Westbury Classic, G3 Bonecrusher Stakes and the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap. Her other winners have been Key Largo (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Flag Hunter (NZ) - Top Mountain Hero (Mac.) (Sacred Falls {NZ}).
Enjay, since producing Queen’s Evidence, has produced a yearling colt by Almanzor (Fr), and last spring was served by Hello Youmzain again.
Queen’s Legacy sold for $220,000 at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale with DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) being the successful purchaser from the draft of Cambridge Stud.
Doomben, Race 3, 2.22pm AEDT (1.22pm local), Sky Racing QTIS Jewel Prelude 2YO Colts & Geldings Handicap, $125,000, 1110m
Penrod, 2-year-old colt (Better Than Ready x Prevalent (USA) {Empire Maker {USA})
Doomben’s Saturday meeting will be the venue for the debut of the David Vandyke sharply-bred Better Than Ready colt Penrod. The promising juvenile looked very smart winning a trial by 5l at the Sunshine Coast (Inner Track) on February 4, defeating Love To Torque (Maurice {Jpn}) who subsequently won impressively at Eagle Farm last weekend.
Penrod as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Penrod is by the noted speed stallion Better Than Ready and is the seventh foal from the Empire Maker (USA) mare Prevalent (USA), who was a winner at Chantilly on the track over 1100 metres.
She has proven to be a consistent broodmare and has left five winners including Prevailed (Justify {USA}), Provance (Star Witness), Elleves (Vancouver), Blue Tone (Hinchinbrook) and Persepolis (Siyouni {Fr})
Prevalent, since producing Penrod, has produced a yearling colt by Better Than Ready and was subsequently served by Alpine Edge last spring.
Penrod was passed in short of his $25,000 reserve at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Miss Fireball (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) - ran a very good second at Wanganui, she got back into a very tricky spot which stopped her being able to build any momentum when she needed to. To her credit, when she found clear air she attacked the line very strongly.
Facilitate (Capitalist) - ran a solid second on debut at Moonee Valley, he did everything professionally and batttled away strongly after sitting outside the leader throughout.
