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.
While the black-type action at Caulfield will dominate proceedings on Saturday, many other notable runners will be in action around Australia, including an intriguing Benchmark 70 handicap at the Kensington meeting at Randwick.
Eagle Farm Race 1, 11:33am AEST, Worldwide Printing QTIS Three-Years-Old H., $75,000, 1600m
But we start in Brisbane with a promising field of three-year-olds, headed by Star of Michelin (Jet Spur).
Out of a full-sister to Group 1 winner Woorim (Show a Heart) and Group 1-placed Charnley River (Show a Heart), the Stuart Kendrick-trained gelding has won two of his three starts and is nominated for the Caulfield Guineas.
Race rival Dawson Delight (Real Saga) is a half-sister to the Queensland Oaks runner-up Dawson Diva (Falvelon). The Garnett Taylor-trained filly won her only previous start.
Kensington Race 3, 1:10pm AEST, Everest Carnival H., Benchmark 70, $125,000, 1100m
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Aussie (Snitzel) was scratched from the G3 Vain S. and will run in this race in Sydney instead.
Aussie is a half-brother to the four-time Group 1 winner, champion sprinter in Australia and Europe and highly successful sire Starspangledbanner (Choisir).
Nominated for the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas, Aussie has had three starts for a win, a second and a fifth placing in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude.
Aussie as a yearling
The next 3-year-old in this line-up is All Cylinders (Testa Rossa), from the family of multiple Group 2 winner Staging (Success Express) and her Group 1 progeny Duporth (Red Ransom), Excites (Danewin) and Tickets (Redoute’s Choice).
The Peter Robl-trained All Cylinders began his career with a win at Gosford in January and a second in the Pierro Plate at Randwick two weeks later. In two subsequent appearances, he was fourth in the G3 Black Opal and fifth in the G3 Kindergarten S.
Next is Godolphin’s Pandemic (Sepoy), a stylish winner at Wyong in his only start to date. Pandemic is a half-brother to Australia’s champion 2-year-old of the 2013-14 season, Earthquake (Exceed and Excel), who won the G1 Blue Diamond, G2 Reisling S. and G3 Blue Diamond Prelude and placed in the G1 Golden Slipper.
Another half-sister, Palomares (Commands), was a Listed winner at Flemington.
The other two 3-year-olds in this field are high-priced yearling purchases from the stable of Chris Waller – Maddi Rocks (Fastnet Rock) and Iskander (I Am Invincible).
Maddi Rocks was bought for $325,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Her dam, the winning Encosta de Lago mare Savannah River, is a half-sister to champion sire Savabeel.
Nominated for the Golden Rose, Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas, Maddi Rocks has had a win and a second placing from two starts to date.
Iskander as a yearling
Iskander was a $500,000 purchase from the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is a half-sister to Alboran Sea (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), a three-time Group 1 winner and champion 3-year-old filly in South Africa in 2014-15. Two other half-siblings have also placed at Listed level.
Iskander, who has had a win from three starts so far, is nominated for the Thousand Guineas.
Kembla Grange, Race 7, 4:04pm AEST, Tynan Motors Mercedes-AMG Maiden Plate, $35,000, 1400m
This maiden event features the third raceday appearance of $800,000 yearling Extraordinary (Redoute’s Choice).
A graduate of the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Extraordinary is out of the unraced Zabeel mare Assertin Miss – a full-sister to Group 1 winner Reset and multiple stakes winner So Assertive.
Extraordinary as a yearling
Second dam, Assertive Lass (Zeditave), won seven races including the G1 Flight S. and Coolmore Classic.
Trained by the Snowdens, Extraordinary finished sixth on debut last season before a third placing in the Listed Fernhill H. He is nominated for the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas.
