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 Wednesday, Osborne Bulls' half-brother resumes at Warwick Farm, I Am A Star's half-sister makes her debut at Te Rapa, while a Godolphin filly looks to make an impression against the older horses at Sale.
Warwick Farm Race 2, 1:25pm AEST, Press Statement @Vinery Hcp, $50,000, 1200m
Mercury (Brazen Beau), the half-brother to multiple stakes-winning and Group 1-placed sprinter Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) makes his return to the track off a couple of recent soft trials. His one race experience saw him finish down the track in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial in October where he pulled up lame.
He has been given plenty of time to recover from that and this looks an easy assignment first-up. He is also a half-brother to the winners Sedition (Exceed and Excel) and Badajoz (Commands) and has a full sister, who is a weanling, while his dam, Jerezana won the Listed Ramornie Hcp at Grafton. Triple stakes winner Viridine (Poet's Voice {GB}) is also part of the extended family.
Brazen Beau, sire of Mercury
Te Rapa Race 2, 11:30 NZST, 9:30am AEST, Website Angels Mdn, $10,000, 1200m
Star Petite (NZ) (Thewayyouare {USA}) makes her debut for trainer Stephen Marsh and has some serious shoes to fill in the form of her older half-sister I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible), who won nine stakes races, including the Group 1 Myer Classic. She was passed in at this week's National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast for $1.4m.
They, and their stakes-placed sibling Band On The Run (I Am Invincible), are out of Star Band {USA}) (Dixieland Band {USA}), who was sold to her current owners for just $2,000 back in 2013. That seems a good price for a half-sister to two international stakes winners, Common World (USA) (Spinning World {USA}) and Speciale (USA) (War Chant {USA}).
This filly was retained to race by her breeders and has shown enough at her recent trials to suggest she can be competitive here.
Sale Race 2, 1pm AEST, Gippsland Times Mdn, $35,000, 1010m
Static (Shooting To Win) was one of six yearlings purchased by Godolphin out of last year's Classic Sale, paying $170,000 for the first foal from the Charge Forward mare Electric Charge, who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Miss Darcey (Hussonet {USA}) out of stakes-winner and Group 1 placed 2-year-old Miss Bussell (Danzero).
Static as a yearling
She makes her debut here against the older horses and there should be plenty of confidence in her given Craig Williams takes the ride from an inside barrier. She has had a recent trial plus a few Flemington jumpouts to get ready for this and looks well-placed to make an impression.
