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 focus on the Ballarat meeting where we like the chances of a 2-year-old making his first appearance for Lloyd Kennewell, a lightly-tried maiden who deserves to break through and filly from Lindsay Park who looks on the verge of a winning turn.
Ballarat Race 1, 12.30pm, Hewitt & Whitty Maiden, $23,000, 1400m
Pompilius (I Am Invincible) is a son of Dwindle (Commands), who was successful three times and hails from a successful Australian and international family. She is a half-sister to the G2 Pago Pago S. winner Tarquin (Hard Spun {USA}) with their dam Daanet Al Dunya (USA) (Rahy {USA}) a sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Fantastic Light (USA) and to the stakes winner and Group 1 placegetter Hi Dubai (USA).
Pompilius as a yearling
The pedigree also features the G1 BTC Cup winner and Group producer Your Song and a family that prompted Champion Thoroughbreds to go to $200,000 to secure Pompilius at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The youngster is trained by Lloyd Kennewell, who looks to have found an ideal race here to kick off the gelding’s career.
Ballarat Race 2, Pipe Pro Drilling Maiden, $23,000, 1100m
Sylvite (Bel Esprit) has a gilt-edged opportunity to gain a deserved victory after going close in her first two efforts. The 3-year-old was runner-up on this course in both appearances and is a clear stand-out in this line-up.
Prepared by Jarrod McLean, Sylvite is out of Graceland (Stratum) whose only other foal to race is the multiple winner Desidero (Magnus). The dam is a daughter of the Listed Merson Cooper S. runner-up Simply Rossa (Testa Rossa) and the family of the stakes performers Charnwood Green (Charnwood Forest {Ire}) and Impending (Brave Salute).
Ballarat Race 5, Polytrack H., $22,000, 1500m
Iguacu Falls (Snitzel) made the perfect start to her career in the summer with a debut win at Cranbourne and was then spelled by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig. She struggled on a heavy track when resuming and showed sharp improvement last time out to finish fourth over 1400 metres and the extra trip here should be ideal.
Iguacu Falls as a yearling
A $250,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, Iguacu Falls is out of a sister to the G2 Ajax S. winner and sire Niagara with their dam the unraced River Song (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}). She is a half-sister to the G3 SAJC Breeders’ S. winner Murjana (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) and the dam of the G1 Railway S. winner Gathering (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and the family of champion sire Redoute’s Choice.
