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 Australia on Friday. A promising Ardrossan filly chases maiden success at Ballarat, and then at Newcastle, Trapeze Artist and Alabama Express fillies go head-to-head.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 2, 2.30pm AEDT, Eureka Concrete Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1200m
Shiny Love (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Ardrossan x Miss Rule {NZ} {Bachelor Duke {USA}})
Shiny Love (NZ), a daughter of Waikato Stud’s Ardrossan, will make her debut at Ballarat over 1200 metres on Friday for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. This won in stylish fashion by 0.75l at the Cranbourne trials on February 24.
Shiny Love (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
She is the fifth live-foal from Miss Rule (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}), who only raced once on the track. She has so far left Coolmeans (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who has been a five-time winner and Lex Rex (Per Incanto {USA}) who was a winner at Avondale.
Other stakes performers that feature throughout this pedigree are Secret Liaisons (NZ) (TV Heart Throb {USA}), Reigning To Win (King Of Kings {Ire}), Rocanto (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), and Bluetrain (NZ) (Tights {USA}).
Shiny Love was originally purchased for $30,000 by Enigma Farm from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, before she was a successful pinhook and sold for $100,000 to Mick Price Racing and Breeding, from the draft of Prima Park at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Newcastle, Race 2, 2.30pm AEDT, Living Turf Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1200m
She Swings, 3-year-old filly (Trapeze Artist x Blueberry Hill {Myboycharlie {Ire}})
Newcastle’s Friday meeting will be the venue for the third start for the well-bred She Swings (Trapeze Artist). This David Pfieffer-trained filly has run two very good seconds in her career so far at Warwick Farm and Newcastle, and looks a great chance to break through over 1200 metres.
She Swings as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The well-related filly is the fifth foal from the Myboycharlie (Ire) mare Blueberry Hill, who was a four-time winner on the track, including in the G2 Champagne Classic and the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic.
She has already left two winners and they are Found Our Thrill (Vancouver) and Lady Of Poise (Trapeze Artist) who was a winner as a juvenile.
Blueberry Hill, since producing She Swings, has left a 2-year-old So You Think (NZ) filly named Outsidethesquare, a yearling filly by The Autumn Sun and was served last spring by Rubick.
She Swings was a $60,000 purchase by David Pfieffer Racing Pty Ltd and Koolman Bloodstock from the draft of Lyndhurst Stud Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.
Newcastle, Race 2, 2.30pm AEDT, Living Turf Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1200m
From The Peak, 3-year-old filly (Alabama Express x Andes {Street Cry {Ire}})
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained and Yulong Investments-bred and owned Alabama Express filly, From The Peak will be making her debut at Newcastle on Friday. She has looked very smart winning both of her trials at Randwick and looks hard to beat at her first start.
From The Peak as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
From The Peak is out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare Andes, she only raced once but has started her broodmare career well. Her first foal Mountain Range (Teofilo {Ire}) has been a winner and her third foal, Pharari (American Pharoah {USA}) has won four.
There are a range of international Group winners throughout the pedigree including Aramco (Poet’s Voice {GB}), In The Wings (GB), High Hawk (Ire) (Shirley Heights {GB}), Hunting Hawk (Ire) and Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}).
From The Peak was offered at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, but was passed in short of her $120,000 reserve.
Since producing From The Peak, Andes has produced a 2-year-old filly by Written Tycoon and was served by Tagaloa last spring.
Looking Back
The Espy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) - ran a solid fifth on debut, he loomed up and probably just peaked on his run slightly when looking likely.
High Praise (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) - won impressively at Pakenham, he looks a very exciting potential stayer of the future.
