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 in New Zealand and Australia on Friday, including a well-bred expensive American Pharoah (USA) 3-year-old, a Savabeel filly stepping up to a suitable distance and a Zoustar 2-year-old looking to start her career with maiden success.
Matamata Race 2, 11.12am AEST (1.12pm local) Entain - NZB Insurance Pear Series Mdn., $17,000, 1400m
The Sky Above, 3-year-old filly (American Pharoah {USA} x Blue Blue Sky {Lonhro})
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained The Sky Above (American Pharoah {USA}) will be looking to keep the stables hot form going when running at Matamata on Friday on the back of showing plenty of promise running well in her first three starts.
This American Pharoah (USA) filly out of Blue Blue Sky (Lonhro) is bred to be good with many influential stallions featuring in her pedigree including Stravinsky (USA), Octagonal (NZ), Straight Strike (USA), Nureyev (USA) and Storm Cat (USA).
Blue Blue Sky has already left her mark at stud leaving two winners including Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock) who won the Listed Fasttrack Insurance S., and the winner Mr Blue Sky (Zoustar).
The Sky Above as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Further back in the family are the Group winners in La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky), Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock), Azula (Maurice {Jpn}) and Weregoingtogetcha (Testa Rossa).
Blue Blue Sky has been given every chance at stud since producing The Sky Above and has left a yearling colt by Merchant Navy, a weanling filly by Acrobat and in the spring was served by Justify (USA).
The Sky Above was a $250,000 purchase by D Ellis/ Te Akau from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Orange, Race 2, 1.20pm AEST, Orange Motor Group Super Mdn Showcase H., $50,000, 1010m
Zoubaby, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Magnaflight {Magnus})
The well-bred Zoubaby (Zoustar), is set to make her debut over 1010 metres for Rosehill trainers Richard and Will Freedman at Orange on Friday. She has trialled well in preparation winning two out of her four trials.
Zoubaby is the first foal from Magnaflight (Magnus). She was a winner at 1200 metres and is out of the five-time winner Snow Flight (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) who produced the talented sprinter Viddora (I Am Invincible), she won nine times on the track including the G1 AJ Moir S., and the G1 Winterbottom S.
Zoubaby as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Magnaflight since producing Zoubaby has left a yearling filly by Ole Kirk, a weanling filly by Hellbent and was most recently served in the spring by Extreme Choice.
Zoubaby was a $300,000 purchase by Avenue Bloodstock/Richard and Will Freedman from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Cranbourne, Race 1, 4.40pm AEST, Procon Developments Mdn Plate, $40,000, 2025m
Sun Gift (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Savabeel x Sunniva (NZ) {Pour Moi {Ire}})
Cranbourne's Friday meeting will serve as the venue for the third start for the Waikato Stud-bred and M J Chittick-owned filly Sun Gift (NZ) (Savabeel) after running a promising fifth first-up and a lovely placing last start over 1740 metres when she run on strongly from back in the field at Geelong.
Sun Gift is by the Champion New Zealand sire in Savabeel and she has a strong international pedigree with her page full of influential stallions including Zabeel (NZ), Nureyev (USA), Montjeu (Ire), Defensive Play (USA) and Sadler’s Wells (USA).
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
Her dam Sunniva (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}) was unraced on the track but is very well-related. She is a three-quarter sister to the former Windsor Park stallion and Group 2 winner Guillotine (NZ) and a half-sister the the G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 Turnbull S. and G1 VRC Derby victor in Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Since producing Sun Gift, Sunniva has an unnamed 2-year-old by Savabeel (that sold for NZ$230,000 to Rob Hickmott Racing at the 2023 NZ Karaka Yearling Sale) and a yearling colt also by Savabeel, she was most recently served by the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas winning son of Savabeel in Noverre (NZ).
Looking Back
Money Team (I Am Invincible) was tough in Race 1 at Pakenham only going down by a short-head, finishing second to Bons To Riches (Bon Aurum). From the same stable (Ryan and Alexiou), Enhance (Exceed And Excel) mustered pace early to overcome a wide gate, but failed to have enough left in the tank for the finish - the colt weakened to finish sixth. The other selection, Manzappeal (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), failed to impress, finishing sixth and beaten 7.6l at Waverley on Thursday.
