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 like the chance at Grafton of a recent trial winner on his return to race day action, while at the Pakenham meeting a debut runner and a lightly-tried colt appeal as serious winning prospects.
Grafton Race 2, 1.35pm, Red Hot Hair Maiden, $22,000, 1106m
Royal Factor (The Factor {USA}) hasn’t raced since he finished 5th at Doomben nearly a year ago, but recent trials suggest he can make an immediate impact off a lengthy break. He won both 1000 metre heats at the Gold Coast and at Muswellbrook last month, the latest in the hands of Tegan Newman who rides the 4-year-old again.
Royal Factor as a yearling
Trained by Matthew Dunn, Royal Factor was an $80,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase and is a half-brother to three winners. Their dam Flying Flitter (Flying Spur) is an unraced daughter of the dual Group 1 winner Flitter (NZ) (Bluebird {USA}) and the family of the G2 Matriarch S. winner Jessy Belle (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Ringerdingding (Sebring).
Pakenham Race 2, 1.00pm, Sportsbet-Foolproof Maiden, $23,000, 1100m
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, Zende (Brazen Beau) was a $140,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale graduate. The 3-year-old gave a strong indication of an early return on that investment when he won his only trial at Casterton over 800 metres.
Zende as a yearling
He is a son of Graceful Devil (Thunder Gulch {USA}), who has produced five winners and she is a sister to the G1 Blue Diamond S. placegetter Divine Secret and she’s the dam of the G1 Vinery Stud S. winner Montoya’s Secret (High Chaparral {Ire}). The pedigree also includes the G2 Breeders’ Plate winner Excited Angel (Don’t Say Halo {USA}), also a three-time Group 1 runner-up, and the G2 Sunline S. winner Text’n Hurley (Hard Spun {USA}).
Pakenham Race 4, 2.00pm, Backcare & Seating Maiden, $23,000, 1400m
Triton Rising (Sebring) got home strongly for 3rd in his first appearance last season for David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig. He was then freshened and returned to finish 4th at Sandown and with the benefit of that run and an extra 200 metres he should be primed to open his account.
The late Sebring, sire of Triton Rising
He is the first foal of Vain Queen (Artie Schiller {USA}), a quality mare who won the G3 Mumm S. and was runner-up in the G1 William Reid S. She is out of a half-sister to the G3 Blue Diamond Preview S. winner Card Queen (Final Card), who in turn produced the G3 Red Anchor S. winner Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt) and she also ran 2nd in the William Reid.
