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 Tuesday, we like the chances of a maiden at Nowra who turned in a bold debut effort and at the Ballarat meeting, we focus on a pair of well-related youngsters who look strong chances in their respective events.
Nowra Race 2, 1.10pm, KNK Builders Maiden, $22,000, 1200m
Scrooge (Snitzel) followed up a couple of decent trials to finish third on debut at Wagga where he made solid late ground after getting back from the outside gate. The colt has drawn much better here and he’s presented with a gilt-edged opportunity against a small field to open his winning account.
Trained by Matthew Dale, Scrooge is a half-brother to the stakes winners Atomic (Commands) and Miss Buz (General Nediym), Scrooge is a son of the black type performer Fluffy Duck (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}). She is a half-sister to the Listed winners Anatina (Fastnet Rock) and Pricked (NZ) (Thorn Park) and the family of G3 Hawkesbury Guineas placegetter Quackerjack (Not A Single Doubt).
Snitzel, sire of Scrooge
Ballarat Race 2, 12.25pm, Medical Edge Maiden 2YO, $23,000, 1200m
Yulong Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) won his only trial at Werribee before he was unsighted on debut when he struck a heavy surface at Moe. He was well supported first time out and on a better track he is worth giving a second chance to.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, the colt was a $120,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase and is a half-brother to eight winners, including the black type performers Woodala (Woodman {USA}) and Rose Darmore (More Than Ready {USA}). Their dam Darmala (NZ) (Danehill {USA}) was placed at Listed level and she is a half-sister to the G3 Summer Cup winner Majestically (Maroof {USA}) with their mother a sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Triscay (Marscay).
Yulong Spirit as a yearling
Ballarat Race 6, 2.50pm, Porter Plant H., $22,000, 1400m
Iguacu Falls (Snitzel) was a $250,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is out of the unraced Miss Iguacu (Encosta de Lago), who is a sister to the G2 Ajax S. winner Niagara. It is the family of the champion stallion Redoute’s Choice (Danehill {USA}), his brother Platinum Scissors and fellow Group 1 winners Gathering (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), Hurricane Sky (Star Watch), Al Maher (Danehill {USA}), Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago).
Prepared at Lindsay Park, Iguacu Falls was successful first time out at Cranbourne before a break and she struck a testing track at Sandown when resuming so the filly could be forgiven for that failure. She has drawn a good gate and on a firmer surface, she can return to winning ways.
Iguacu Falls as a yearling
