Looking Ahead shines a spotlight on interesting riders from Australia and New Zealand. Whether it’s a particularly well-bred or highly paid rider at the start of his career looking for success, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse that has performed particularly well, we’ll endeavour to give you something to follow.
A well-bred Too Darn Hot filly, who went unnoticed at the sales, makes her debut at Grafton, while at Pakenham a full sister to The Intimidator (Toronado {Ire}) makes her debut.
Grafton, Race 5, 2:50 p.m., AEST, Springboard to Fame 2YO Showcase P., $45,000, 1,175m
Burnt Fingers, 2-year-old filly (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Boracay, by Red Ransom {USA})
Making his debut under coach Paul Murray, Burned Fingers (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was stolen by ART Racing at the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale from Yarran Thoroughbreds for $35,000 and since then his sire has lived up to his name by becoming a highly sought-after property. So highly sought-after in fact that he is not commuting this year, thanks to Group 1 winners Overflow in its first Australian harvest and Fallen Angel in its first European harvest.
Burnt Fingers as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Burnt Fingers is a half-sister to Listed winner Charlevoix (New Approach {Ire}) and stakes placed winner Credence (Helmet). His mother, Boracayis a half-sister to the G1 NZ Railway Handicap winner Cannsea (Canny Lad) Group 2 winner Next to the beach (NZ) (Crested Wave {United States}).
Pakenham, Race 1, 12:30 p.m., AEST, Work Armor Solutions Mdn P., $37,500, 1,200m
Dashonardo, 3-year-old filly (Toronado {Ire} x Ty Dash, by Written Tycoon)
Dashonardo made her debut under trainer Trevor J Andrews in the first race at Pakenham on the synthetic track. She is a full sister to a 4-year-old gelding The bully He won the Listed Mufhasa Stakes in New Zealand in the autumn as a 3-year-old before being sold to Hong Kong where he was renamed I Am The Boss. As The Intimidator, he finished second on his 3-year-old debut before winning back-to-back and placings in the G3 Bonecrusher S. and the Listed Uncle Remus S.
Toronado (Ireland) | Standing at Swettenham Stud
Dashonardo was not offered at auction, but The Intimidator was sold for NZ$160,000 by Inglewood Stud at the NZB National Yearling Sale.
By Tornadowho had a solid season with G1 Doomben Cup winner Silver Wood and Hong Kong Victor the winnerDashonardo will be ridden by Zac Spain.
Dashonardo’s mother, Ty Dashhas won twice and is a half-sister to G3 winner Typhoon Tracy S. Written dash (Written Tycoon) who has produced two placed winners to date; Osamu (To surpass and excel) and Written in code (I am invincible). This is the family of the winner of Group 1 Sizzling (Snitzel), as well as stakes winners Bonaparte (Pierro), and Diamonds (Rich enough).
Looking back
Our Wednesday picks: Both were struck out.