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 Friday, we like the chances of an expensive colt in the Chris Waller yard stepping out at Randwick and a stablemate on debut at Kembla Grange also has claims while at Flemington a Godolphin representative looks ideally-placed to handle a step up in distance.
Randwick Race 1, 11.35am, Australian Turf Club H., $125,000, 1400m
Most Welcome (Exceed And Excel) was a $550,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate and is a half-brother to the former champion Singapore sprinter Zac Spirit (Flying Spur) and the stakes winner Zac Influence (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). They are out of Kidman (Quest For Fame {GB}), who was a winner and finished runner-up in the G2 Reisling Slipper Trial. The second dam Unison (Marauding {NZ}) won the Listed Widden S. and was placed in the G1 Galaxy H.
Trained by Chris Waller, Most Welcome was extensively trialled before the colt made his first race day appearance at Canterbury. He made late ground to finish third and the step up to 1400 metres looks ideal for him.
Most Welcome as a yearling
Kembla Grange Race 3, 1.04pm, Bailey Interiors Maiden, $35,000, 1400m
Waller also looks to have a bright prospect here in Misty Summer (Dundeel {NZ}), who has had a couple of trials. She impressed in the most recent one at Warwick Farm where she finished runner-up and from a handy gate she can make an impact.
Dundeel (NZ), sire of Misty Summer
Misty Summer is a daughter of Wind Bender (Redoute’s Choice) and is raced by Hermitage, who bought the dam at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $500,000 and she was a city winner. Wind Bender is out of the G1 South Australian Oaks winner Dowry (NZ) (Bahhare {USA}) and she’s a half-sister to the G2 Japan-New Zealand Trophy winner Fatal (NZ) (Bakharoff {USA}).
Flemington Race 3, 1,00pm, Byerley H. $135,000, 1800m
The 2-year-olds go over an extended trip here and Prophecies (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) has a pedigree that suggests she will have no trouble coping. Her unraced dam Phoebe (Street Sense {USA}) is a half-sister to the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Paximadia (Commands) and the family of Territories (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), whose eight wins up to 3000 metres included the G1 Prix Jean Prat. The multiple Group 1 winner and champion sire Street Cry (Ire) also features in this pedigree..
Medaglia d'Oro (USA), sire of Prophecies
Prophecies has had two runs for trainer James Cummings and finished fifth in her Seymour debut. She then went to Bendigo and from an outside gate got well back before running home encouragingly for sixth. The extra distance should suit her ideally and she appeals as a strong each chance.
