Looking Ahead highlights runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are an exceptionally well-bred or high-priced runner early in their career chasing maiden success, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse that 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 Saturday. A So You Think (NZ) filly chases maiden success at Werribee, a Tagaloa filly bids to become her sires first stakes winner at Morphettville and a well-bred Trapeze Artist gelding resumes at Newcastle.
Picklebet Park Werribee, Race 2, 12.51pm AEDT, Irt Maiden Plate, $27,000, 1600m
Of The View, 3-year-old filly (So You Think (NZ) x Felicienne {Al Maher})
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Of The View (So You Think {NZ}) will make her third start at Werribee over 1600 metres. In her previous two starts she has run good seconds at Benalla and Swan Hill, and looks hard to beat in this maiden event.
The promising filly is the fifth foal from the Al Maher mare Felicienne, she was a classy mare winning five times from 1200 metres up to 1700 metres including in the G3 Schweppervescence Trophy at Flemington.
So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore Australia
This family has so much depth to it further back and her third dam is the outstanding Candide (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}) who was successful in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the G1 New Zealand Oaks. Stakes-winners that have descended from Candide include Dylanson (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), Nadeem, Marju Snip (NZ) (Marju {Ire}), Billion Win (Coronation Day), Do Ra Mi (NZ) (Savabeel), Kingdoms (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Unique Jewellery (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}),
Felicienne since producing Of The View has left a 2-year-old filly by Churchill (Ire), a yearling filly by Tarzino (NZ), a Satono Aladdin (Jpn) weanling filly and was subsequently served by Swiss Ace.
Morphettville, Race 2, 1.22pm, AEDT (12.52pm local), Listed Sportsbet Without Fear Stakes,$120,000, 1050m
Meisho, 2-year-old filly (Tagaloa x Dream Chaser {Charge Forward})
Meisho, a daughter of Tagaloa, will be making her fourth start at Morphettville for Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
She has run two placings in her three starts so far in her career at Murray Bridge and on the Caulfield Heath behind the talented Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom), between those runs she ran a gallant fifth in Group 3 company at Flemington.
Tagaloa | Standing at Yulong Stud
She has drawn the ace barrier here and looks very hard to beat on the back of a nice break and two recent jump out wins at Cranbourne over 800 metres, as she bids to be the first stakes winner for her sire.
Meisho is the seventh foal from Dream Chaser (Charge Forward), who was a two-time winner in Melbourne, she has done a good job as a broodmare leaving six individual winners so far.
Dream Chaser since producing Meisho, has left a yearling filly by Gold Standard and a weanling filly by Tagaloa.
Newcastle, Race 4, 2.25pm AEDT, Insight Building Services Super Maiden Handicap, $60,000, 1500m
Sisu Spirit, 3-year-old gelding (Trapeze Artist x Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) {Zabeel {NZ}})
The well-bred Sisu Spirit (Trapeze Artist) is set to make his third start over 1500 metres for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at Newcastle on Saturday. He ran very well on debut when he ran second over 1200 metres at Newcastle on October 5 behind the promising French Ruler (Nicconi) and then battled second up at Warwick Farm.
After a good break, he looked good winning a trial at Hawkesbury over 1000 metres on March 25, the step up to 1500 metres first up looks suitable given his pedigree.
Sisu Spirit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sisu Spirit is by Widden Stud’s Trapeze Artist and is the first foal from the classy Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). She was a seven-time winner on the track including in the G1 New Zealand Stakes, G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes, G3 Waikato Gold Cup and the G2 Cal Isuzu Stakes.
The family page has some lovely pedigree influences including Redoute’s Choice, Domesday, Zabeel, Sadler’s Wells (USA), Irish River (Fr), Bold Reason (USA), and Biscay.
Lizzie L’Amour since producing Sisu Spirit has left a 2-year-old filly by Trapeze Artist named Artissimo, a yearling filly by St Marks Basilica (Fr) named Love Divine, an Anamoe weanling colt and was served by Pride Of Dubai last season.
Sisu Spirit sold for $320,000 at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with Mt Hallowell Stud, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing, Kestrel and Mitchell Bloodstock being the successful purchasers from the draft of Widden Stud.
Looking Back
Signoretti (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) - ran a brave second at Geelong, he ended up working hard outside the leader and fought on well. He is progressing the right way.
Hey Daisy (Written By) - Was unfortunately scratched from her race at Port Macquarie, she ran at the Gold Coast instead where she won nicely.
