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 Sunday, we will be following the fortunes at Hawkesbury of a $1m colt and a half-brother to a Group 1 winner while at Swan Hill we look at the chances of a brother to a stakes winning stablemate.
Hawkesbury Race 3, 1.30pm, Blacktown Workers Maiden, $35,000, 1300m
High-priced yearling Petronius (Redoute’s Choice) makes his long awaited first race day appearance and the signs point to a bold showing from the colt. He trialled earlier this year before going for a spell and the break looks to have done him the world of good with a pair of Rosehill trial wins since his return to Gary Moore’s stable.
A brother to Group performers Raphael’s Cat and Tale Of Choice, the 2-year-old was a $1m Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy and is out of the Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Cat By The Tale (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}). Her dam St Clair Ridge (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) won the G2 Futurity S. at the Curragh so there is plenty of pace in the pedigree for Petronius to draw from.
Petronius as a yearling
Hawkesbury Race 6, 3.15pm, Solid Concrete H., $35,000, 1300m
Isilmo (Sepoy) justified his short odds when successfully getting off the mark in excellent style at Newcastle two runs back before he finished sixth at Kembla Grange. It was below par, but given what the Godolphin 3-year-old had done at his previous start he deserves another chance here.
Sepoy, sire of Isilmo
He owns a pedigree to instil confidence as he is a half-brother to the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Kementari (Lonhro) and to the Listed Lonhro Plate winner and Group 1 placegetter Telperion (Street Cry {Ire}). Their dam Yavanna (Redoute’s Choice) was twice successful up to 1300 metres and is a half-sister to the dual Group 2 winner So Gorgeous (Brief Truce {USA}), dam of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Sterling City (Nadeem).
Swan Hill Race 5, 1.35pm, Rural City Council Maiden, $35,000, 1600m
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have enjoyed success with the family of Kajaani (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) as they train her brother Main Stage (NZ), winner of the Listed UCI S. and third in the G3 Caulfield Classic. Their dam Kirin (NZ) (Prized {USA}) won twice at Listed level and is from the family of the dual Group 2 winner Skoozie (NZ) (Prince Of Praise {NZ}), who was also Group 1 placed on three occasions.
Reliable Man, sire of Kajaani
Kajaani has made a bright enough start to her career with a couple of placings from a handful of appearances and was most recently third when resuming over 1300 metres at Cranbourne. As her pedigree suggests, she looks better placed here over more ground and will be ridden by Jye McNeil, who knows the filly having guided her into a placing over this trip at Stoney Creek last preparation.
