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.
Today, we focus on an expensive yearling and a progressive filly at Moonee Valley and an unbeaten blueblood, who makes his black type debut at Riccarton.
Moonee Valley Inglis Banner $500,000 1000m 12.10pm
Espaaniyah (I Am Invincible) came with a hefty price tag when she set Emirates Park back $750,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. She has trialled well for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott under Tim Clark, who takes the reins again.
The filly is out of a half-sister to the G3 Kennedy Plate winner Jorda (Exceed And Excel) with their dam Catalonia (Flying Spur) a three-quarter sister to the Listed 2-year-old winner Le Mans (Quest For Fame {GB}). It is also the family of the Group winners Aichi (Strategic), Detours (Ad Valorem {USA}) and Hioctdane (Strada).
Espaaniyah as a yearling
Moonee Valley G3 Aquis Farm Fillies’ Classic $200,000 1600m 3.00pm
Thousand Wishes (Lope De Vega {IRE}) is a half-sister to the black type performers Spurrendous (Shamardal {USA}) and Purcentage (Onemorenomore) and she has made a bright start to her career. A winner second time out, she then finished a solid fourth in the G2 Edward Manifold S.
Her dam Spurcent (Flying Spur) won the Listed Gimcrack S., and is a half-sister to the G1 Hong Kong Mile winner Glorious Days (Hussonet {USA}). Group 1 winner Black Mamba (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}) and the Group 2 winner All Legal (Al Maher) also feature on the pedigree page.
Riccarton Listed Zacinto S., $70,000 1600m 3.33pm
The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) doesn’t lack anything on pedigree and he looked a colt with an excellent future with victory on debut. While the quality of his opposition may have been questionable, his performance was a commanding one and better company shouldn’t hold any fears for him.
His dam The Glitzy One (NZ) (Flying Spur) won eight races and was Group 3 placed and she is a daughter of the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and G1 Waikato International S., winner The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). She has produced the four-time Group 3 winner The Diamond One (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and the family of the Group 1 winners The Phantom Chance (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}) and his brother The Phantom.
The Chosen One as a yearling
