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, a Brad Widdup-trained youngster looks poised to go close at Hawkesbury where we also like a well-related Lindsay Park filly and at Grafton we zero in on a 2-year-old with a host of Group 1 winners in her pedigree.
Hawkesbury Race 2, 1.20pm, Richmond Club Maiden, $35,000, 1300m
Uprise (Hinchinbrook) is a half-brother to the G3 BTC Classic winner Platinum Kingdom (Magnus) and the multiple winner and stakes performer Éclair Sunshine (All Too Hard). Their dam Miss Rangoon (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {Ire}) is an unraced half-sister to the G3 Las Flores H. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Spring Meadow (USA) (Meadowlake {USA}) and the family of the North American stakes winners Chestnut Lady (USA) (Horse Chestnut {SAF}) and Plentiful (USA) (Harlan’s Holiday {USA}).
Uprise as a yearling
Trained by Brad Widdup, Uprise was an $80,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier buy for Darby Racing and De Burgh Equine and was a trial winner before he made his debut at Newcastle last month. From a wide gate he went back in the field and made solid ground to finish fourth. He again has a tricky gate to contend with, but a touch of early luck should see the youngster make an impression.
Hawkesbury Race 5, 3.11pm, Hawkesbury Gazette H., $35,000, 1300m
Sinzara (Snitzel) hails from a strong New Zealand family and is a daughter of Zingara (Zabeel {NZ}), a two-time winner who ran fourth in the G1 Queensland Oaks. She is out of the G3 Manawatu Classic winner Spottswoode (NZ) (Centaine) and she is a sister to the G1 Arrowfield Stud S. winner Sixty Seconds (NZ) and a three-quarter sister to the dual Group 2 winner Arletty (NZ) and the family of the two-time Group 1 winner Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
Snitzel, sire of Sinzara
Trained at Lindsay Park, Sinzara was successful on debut at Bendigo before Christmas and was then spelled after failing to place at Mornington. She looks to have come back strongly and has won one of her three preparatory trials and from the inside gate she can make her presence felt.
Grafton Race 2, 1.05pm, Andrew Tom Builder Maiden, $22,000, 1100m
Queenofthecastle (Rothesay) is a daughter of Wafer (General Nediym) and she was a capable mare who won six times up to 1200 metres with two of her three foals to race having won. There are some headline acts in this pedigree with G1 Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Canny Lad under the second dam, as well as the top flight winners Camarena (Danehill {USA}), Camarilla (Elusive Quality {USA}), Guelph (Exceed And Excel) and Sepoy, also a source of Group 1 winners.
Trained by John Shelton, Queenofthecastle has gone close to an early breakthrough with runner-up finishes at Ballina and on this course last time out. Matthew Paget will continue his association with the filly who has displayed enough gate speed to get across from an awkward alley to post a deserved victory.
