The week that was – Tom Walter’s ones to follow

Tom Walter - Monday September 18

Two three-year-olds and a gelding of more than 50 starts comprise this week's edition of horses to follow around the tracks in New South Wales.

Advertisement
Photo: RTE

UNION DUES
All eyes were not surprisingly on the Frankel x More Joyous filly Woman, which won this 1250m maiden at Canterbury in good style, but the third-placed Union Dues is one to also keep an eye on. The NZ-bred daughter of Fastnet Rock was stepping out for her second career start after being beaten 2-1/4 lengths on debut at Seymour in May. Following a sluggish getaway from the barriers, Union Dues had trouble keeping pace with the others and quickly found herself three lengths astern of the second last runner in transit. After tacking onto the field just before the 800m mark, the filly relaxed for rider Brenton Avdulla before being stoked up again just before the turn. Looked as though she would labour to the post, and understandably so, but she had the temerity to get up and run third. Considering what transpired in this race, don't think connections could have asked for a better run.
Career record (2:0-0-1).
Possible race to look for – 3YO Fillies 1300m Maiden Handicap at Warwick Farm October 2

PARET
As far as debuts go, this was probably up there with as good as you will see in midweek company. The three-year-old colt had trialled well leading into this 1250m maiden and had to overcome significant trouble to win. Stepped out awkwardly at the jump and landed out the back over-racing. Began to settle for rider Glyn Schofield as the tempo of the race increased but found himself cluttered up behind runners at the top of the straight. Schofield brought him to the outside with less than 200m to the post and within a heart beat the colt and raced up to his rivals and won eased up by a three-quarters of a length. Yes, he was assisted by a fast run race and a comparatively slow last 600m, but there was more to this performance than what the numbers tell you – it was arrogant.
Career record (1:1-0-0).
Possible race to look for – 3YO Benchmark 70 1300m Handicap at Rosehill on September 23.

ARISE AUGUSTUS
He may be a seven-year-old now but this horse is flying. He won his first two runs this preparation before an excellent fourth in the Newcastle Hurricane (900m) on Saturday. 900m races are typically fraught with danger because often only one thing needs to go wrong and the race is over. In this case, Arise Augustus faced a virtually impossible task to win from where he was in the run. Sat last and hooked widest into the straight in a race where they dashed home 32.77 for the last 600m. To give you an idea of how slow they went through the first 300m; in the other 900m contest on the day, they ran 1.22 seconds faster for the first 300m and 1.16 seconds slower for the last 600m – a considerable difference for a race of that distance.
Career record (51:10-9-5).
Possible race to look for – Flying 1000m Handicap at Warwick Farm on October 2.

COMMENTS - Did you spot one to follow? Share it with the Racenet audience through the comments section below.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
G3 Fred Best Showdown for Quality Colts – Rosemont vs Yulong
The rescheduled $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1350m) brings stakes racing to a Wednesday this week with a field of 17 to go around at Doomben and at the head of the market is a pair of quality colts.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
One to Watch – Echuca
Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer had an impressive winner at Echuca on Tuesday for his breeder Olly Tait.
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.