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.
Two exciting runners are going head-to-head at Sportsbet-Ballarat on Sunday, A two-year-old son of Fastnet Rock and the Group 1 winning filly Oohood (I Am Invincible) and a Saxon Warrior (Jpn) two-year-old related to the champion Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}).
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 1, 1.15pm AEST, Raceday Medical 2YO Mdn P., $37,500, 1400m
Bancory Bay, 2-year-old gelding (Fastnet Rock x Oohood {I Am Invincible)
Sportsbet-Ballarat’s Sunday meeting will serve as the starting point for the career of Bancory Bay, a regally-bred son of the recently retired legendary stallion Fastnet Rock from the Michael Moroney stable at Flemington.
Bancory Bay is the second foal out of the talented mare, Oohood (I Am Invincible). She was successful in the G1 Flight S., was runner-up in the G1 Golden Slipper, G1 Sires’ Produce S., G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (f) and the Listed Merson Cooper S. She was also classy enough to run third in the G1 Caulfield Guineas and the G1 Blue Diamond S., amongst other stakes placings.
Bancory Bay as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bancory Bay has a strong international pedigree with his page full of influential international and colonial stallions including Fastnet Rock, I Am Invincible, Sunday Silence (Jpn), Canny Lad, Royal Academy (USA), Rory’s Jester, Halo (USA), and Danehill (USA).
Oohood since producing Bancory Bay has delivered a Wootton Bassett (GB) weanling filly and was most recently served in the spring by Arrowfield Stud’s Japanese shutter Maurice (Jpn).
Bancory Bay was a $360,000 purchase by PR Bloodstock from the draft of Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd at the 2023 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 1, 1.15pm AEST, Raceday Medical 2YO Mdn P., $37,500, 1400m
Signor Bill, 2-year-old gelding (Saxon Warrior {Jpn} x Zuccotto {Quest For Fame {GB})
Bred and owned by O P Tait and Mrs J G Nivision , Signor Bill is a gelding by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) out of the mare Zuccotto (Quest For Fame {GB}).
Zuccotto has made a promising start to her broodmare career having already left two-individual winners in Smart As Smart (Smart Missile) and Alchermes (Excelebration {Ire}).
The family page is a little quiet up close but back a bit further it is full of class, her great-grandam Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}), was a star on the track and was successful in the G1 One Thousand Guineas. She then surpassed her race record in the breeding barn leaving nine individual winners, including three stakes-winners.
Saxon Warrior | Standing at Coolmore
Of these the clear headliner was the Champion galloper Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}) who was successful in twenty one races including thirteen Group 1 races. The other stakes-winners were the Listed winners Dream Ballad (Singspiel {Ire}) and Hood (Shamardal {USA}).
The Patrick Payne-trained gelding has raced twice placing second at Sandown over 1300 metres behind the very exciting Epimeles (Dundeel {NZ}) who won the Listed Anzac Day Stakes during the week, and Signor Bill at his last start ran a close-up second at Pakenham. A win looks just around the corner for this talented gelding who is bred to get even better with age and a bit of time.
Looking Back
Our selections for Saturday: Ikasara (I Am Invincible) won at Rosehill, Sister Cynane (I Am Invincible) finished second at Te Rapa, and Houdini (Snitzel) finished 12th.
