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.
The 2-year-olds take centre stage at Flemington on Saturday in feature Group races. A promising Snitzel filly takes her place in the G3 Darley Ottawa Stakes, and then I Am Invincible has two runners that go head-to-head in the G2 MSS Security Sires' Produce Stakes.
Flemington, Race 2, 12.35pm AEDT, G3 Darley Ottawa Stakes, $200,000, 1000m
Pure Passion, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Snogging {I Am Invincible})
Flemington’s 2-year-old Group 3 race is where Pure Passion will have her second start on Saturday. She is a well-bred daughter of Snitzel from the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable at Pakenham. She ran second on debut at Ballarat behind Eeteedee (Strasbourg) on February 23.
Pure Passion as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pure Passion is out of the talented mare Snogging (I Am Invincible) who was successful four times from 1300 metres to 1600 metres, she also placed in the G2 Queen Of The Turf Stakes and the Listed Centaurea Stakes. Further back in the family are the talented New Zealand-bred trio of El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), Chocante (NZ) (Shocking) and Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Snogging’s further progeny since producing Pure Passion, includes a yearling filly by Stay Inside, a filly foal by Snitzel and subsequently she was served by Shinzo.
Flemington, Race 5, 2.20pm AEDT, G2 MSS Security Sires’ Produce Stakes, $300,000, 1400m
Heavenly Conquest, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Taste Of Heaven {Encosta De Lago})
The beautifully-bred Heavenly Conquest (I Am Invincible) is set to make her third start at Flemington on Saturday. On debut she ran a very sound fifth at Flemington on January 18 behind the very talented Cavalry Girl (Bivouac), before she ran a close-up third at Sandown on February 5 behind race-rival Tom (Doubtland) over 1200 metres.
Heavenly Conquest is out of the Encosta de Lago mare Taste Of Heaven. She was a winner at 1300 metres on the track but has left a mark as a broodmare leaving winners all over the world including Japan, America and Australia. The best of her progeny has been Heavenly Curlin (USA) (Curlin {USA}) who was a three-time winner including in the G3 Woodbine Maple Leaf Stakes.
Heavenly Conquest as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Heavenly Conquest’s second dam is the great mare Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad) she will forever have a lasting influence on the breed in Australasia as she left the Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice, the Group 1 winners and sires Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors, the Listed winner and sire Echoes Of Heaven and the talented stakes-winner and stakes-producer in Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
This family has so much depth to it and other Group-winners include the three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Rubick, Precious Lorraine (Encosta De Lago), Summer Monsoon (Stratum), Isthmus (I Am Invincible), Kingofwallstreet (Dundeel {NZ}), Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt) and Schwarz (Zoustar).
Taste Of Heaven since producing Heavenly Conquest, foaled an I Am Invincible filly in September and was subsequently served by Home Affairs.
Heavenly Conquest was passed in at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale short of her $500,000 reserve.
Flemington, Race 5, 2.20pm AEDT, G2 MSS Security Sires’ Produce Stakes, $300,000, 1400m
Vinrock, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Girl Gone Rockin’ {Redoute’s Choice})
The Matt Laurie-trained Vinrock (I Am Invincible) will make his second start at Flemington in the G2 MSS Security Sires' Produce Stakes. He won impressively at Pakenham on debut and looks to be an exciting colt that can make his mark at Group level.
Vinrock is the third live-foal from the talented Redoute’s Choice mare Girl Gone Rockin’, she won just under $300,000 on the track including the G2 Matriarch Stakes.
Vinrock as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Girl Gone Rockin’s first two foals to race have both been winners including Maisy (Pierro) who has been a two-time winner and Rocky Rogue (Written Tycoon) who has also won twice.
Girl Gone Rockin’ since producing Vinrock has left a yearling filly by Pierro, and was served by Churchill (Ire) last spring.
Vinrock sold for $300,000 at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale with Matt Laurie Racing and Wilannah Park Bloodstock being the successful purchaser from the draft of Rosemont Stud.
Looking Back
Shiny Love (NZ) (Ardrossan) - ran an okay sixth at Ballarat on debut, she wasn’t beaten far and should improve.
She Swings (Trapeze Artist) - ran a solid fourth at Newcastle.
From The Peak (Alabama Express) - ran a good second at Newcastle. She ran a nice race and will improve off it.
