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 having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
On Sunday, we kick off the day with a filly by Coolmore Stud’s first-season sire Merchant Navy in the first event at Bendigo, before turning our attention to the next race at the Victorian track when a New Zealand-bred son of Tivaci (NZ) also attempts to get off the mark at the first attempt.
The day will be finished off with a gelding by Newgate Farm resident Flying Artie who hails from the family of Champion mare Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and he will be looking to make a winning debut at the Sunshine Coast.
Bendigo, Race 1, 12.50pm AEST, Agnes Banks Equine Clinic 2YO Fillies Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1100m
Navy Girl, 2-year-old filly (Merchant Navy x Platelet {Strategic})
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Navy Girl will be attempting to make a winning debut in the at Bendigo on Sunday and she will jump from barrier eight with Ethan Brown set to take the ride.
Purchased by her trainers and CB Bloodstock for $130,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year, the filly is out of dual Group 1 winner Platelet, whose two foals to race have both been winners.
Navy Girl as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Further afield this is the same family as Group 2 winner Hockney (Quest For Fame {GB}) and R. Listed scorer Dalradian (Reward For Effort).
Bendigo, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Kyabram Veterinary Clinic Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1100m
Bankstown (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Tivaci {NZ} x Kumari {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}})
The New Zealand-bred gelding Bankstown (NZ) will be making his first racecourse appearance at Bendigo for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and he has been drawn in barrier two with Linda Meech booked in the plate.
The gelding was snapped up by Mark Pilkington for $250,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2021 and he is out of three-time-winning Zabeel (NZ) mare Kumari (NZ) and she has produced four winners headed by Group 3 scorer Semari (NZ) (Sebring).
Bankstown (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Kumari herself is out of Listed winner Vedodara (NZ) (Kreisler {Ire}), making her a half-sister to New Zealand Group 1 winner Sharvasti (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) as well as Group 3-winning pair Shastri (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) and Bhandara (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Sunshine Coast, Race 2, 12.15pm AEST, The Big Boing QTIS 2YO Mdn Plate, $26,000, 1000m
Artemas 2-year-old gelding (Flying Artie x Abba {Pendragon {NZ}})
Artemas, a son of Newgate Farm’s Flying Artie, will be making his debut at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday and he will break from the widest barrier 11.
Trained by Chris Munce, the gelding was purchased by his trainer and Julian Blaxland’s Blue Sky Bloodstock for $70,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year and he is out of Listed-placed Pendragon (NZ) mare Abba, who has already produced two winners.
Artemas as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The gelding’s third dam is Song Of Norway (Vain), the dam of Group 2 winner Scandinavia (Snippets) and she in turn produced Group 1 winner Magnus and Group 2 winners Wilander and Scandiva (Fastnet Rock).
Scandinavia is also the dam of Helsinge (Desert Sun {GB}) and she is famed for being the dam of unbeaten Champion Black Caviar and Group 1 winner All Too Hard, who now stands at Vinery Stud.
Looking Back
Our first selection on Saturday was Dirty Merchant (Merchant Navy) who made an eye-catching debut to finish third over 1200 metres at Newcastle, while our second pick was the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Doull (Snitzel), who posted an ultra-impressive winning debut over 1100 metres at Flemington.
The final selection was the John O'Shea-trained Lady Harlem (Sebring) and she finished ninth in the Listed Woodlands S. at Scone.
