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 like a first-timer at Musswellbrook for Bjorn Baker, a well-related 3-year-old from Lindsay Park has our attention at Ladbrokes Park and at the Sunshine Coast improvement is expected from a Pierro filly with Stuart Kendrick.
Muswellbrook Race 2, 1.30pm, Coal Company Maiden, $22,000, 1000m
Calculated Risk (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) is a half-brother to seven winners including Ekstreme (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}), who was successful in the G1 Captain Cook S. Their dam Cashcade (NZ) (Anziyan {USA}) is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner and G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas runner-up Blackrock College (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
The colt is trained by Bjorn Baker and has showed he’s inherited a share of the family ability by winning both of his trials, the latest at Rosehill last month. Greg Ryan has been booked for the ride and from a handy enough gate they look a combination to follow.
Ladbrokes Park Race 2, 11.45am, Ladbrokes Odds Boost H., $50,000, 1200m
A $250,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Lindsay Park, Peidra (Pierro) gave a strong account of himself first time out at Sale. He drew an outside gate and went back before charging home for a dominant victory.
Piedra as a yearling
Peidra is a son of the stakes performer Valoura (Exceed And Excel) and all three of her foals to race have been successful. She is a half-sister to the G2 Shannon S. winner Noire (Foxwedge) and their dam is a three-quarter sister to the G2 Wakeful S. winner and Group 1 performer Timbourina (Timber Country {USA}). The pedigree also features the G1 Railway S. winner Galaxy Star.
Sunshine Coast Race 4, 2.31pm, Vantage Homes Maiden, $21,000, 1200m
Qiji Bellezza (Pierro) is a half-sister to the G3 Southern Cross S. winner Heart Testa (Testa Rossa) and was a $75,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO in Training Sale buy. They are out of Graciela (Flying Spur) and she is a half-sister to the stakes winning 2-year-old Royal Babe (Rory’s Jester) with their dam Royal Snip (Royal Academy {USA}) a sister to the Listed Schweppes Cup winner Academy Dancer. The pedigree also features the dual G1 Telegraph H. winner Enzo’s Lad (Testa Rossa).
Pierro, sire of Qiji Bellezza
The filly placed in a trial before she was out of the money at the first time of asking, but with the benefit of that experience she could show sharp improvement at a price. To be ridden by Dale Smith, she has drawn the inside gate and the stable has a handy record with young horses.
