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 concentrate on the Ballarat meeting where we fancy the chances of a Lindsay Park-trained mare who finished runner-up at her first appearance and a pair of youngsters on debut with Group 1 pedigrees to back their claims.
Ballarat Race 1, 11.40am Vale Daryl Brown Maiden, $35,000, 1500m
Inner Demons (High Chaparral {Ire}) is a daughter of Ouija Board (Elusive Quality {USA}), who is a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner and G1 South Australian Derby runner-up Zagreb (Zabeel {NZ}) with their dam the Listed winner Dansino (Danehill {USA}). She is a three-quarter sister to the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Moon Dragon and a half-sister to the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Leica Smile (At Talaq {USA}).
Trained by the Hayes and Dabernig combination, Inner Demons was a trial winner before she debuted at Geelong where she came from back in the field to finish runner-up over 1240 metres. With a staying bias in her pedigree, moving up to 1500 metres will suit the patiently handled 4-year-old and she looks a top chance in the hands of Michael Dee.
Ballarat Race 3, 12.50pm, Champions Estate 2YO, $35,000, 1400m
A $230,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Coombe Lane (Not A Single Doubt) is a son of She’s Red Hot (Red Ransom {USA}), successful in a couple of minor events, and she’s a half-sister to the South African stakes winner Miss Galilei (Galileo {Ire}). Also featuring in the pedigree is the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Noble Heights (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and the G3 Kenilworth Final Fling S. winner Harlem Shake (SAF) (Warm White Night {SAF}).
Coombe Lane is prepared by Matt Cumani and the colt has had a couple of trials to ready him for his home track debut. He’s drawn to get the perfect run and with Jordan Childs in the saddle will get every opportunity in a modest line-up to make an impact.
Coombe Lane as a yearling
Ballarat Race 4, 1.25pm, Eureka Concrete Maiden, $35,000, 1400m
Killavally (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) placed in both of his trials before Christmas and the 3-year-old has an ideal gate to make his presence felt from in the hands of Linda Meech. He has a pedigree to draw confidence from and trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have a happy knack of producing first-up winners.
Killavally as a yearling
An $NZ80,000 Karaka purchase, Killavally is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Enjoy (NZ), whose two foals to race have both won. She is a daughter of the multiple black type winner Playful Fingers (NZ) (Defensive Play {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the South African Group 1 performer Hancock Park (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}), who produced the Group 2 winner Park Lane (SAF) (Elliodor {SAF}), and is the family of the G1 Orr S. winner Manuel (Commands).
