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 Thursday at Goulburn, we like the chances of a pair of lightly-raced 3-year-olds from well-performed European families and at the Swan Hill meeting a half-brother to a two-time international Group 1 winner has our attention.
Goulburn Race 1, 1.00pm, Wedding @ GDRC Maiden, $22,000, 1000m
Expensive youngster Leo (I Am Invincible) is a son of the stakes performer Swooning (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) and the dual winner hails from a strong European family. Her dam Rosa Parks (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) is a sister to the multiple black type winner Mikado (GB) and a three-quarter sister to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile and the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Barathea (Ire), best known in this part of the world as the sire of the G1 Salinger S. winner Easy Rocking, and to the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Gossamer (Ire).
Leo as a yearling
Leo was purchased at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $260,000 and has twice finished runner-up in a brief career for Peter and Paul Snowden. At his most recent appearance he finished a close 4th at Hawkesbury and against a modest line-up here he looks to have a gilt-edged chance to open his winning account.
Goulburn Race 3, 2.10pm, Goulpro Maiden, $22,000, 1300m
Lost Light (Deep Field) is a son of the G2 Prix de Malleret winner Never Forget (Fr) (Westerner {GB}) and is out of a half-sister to the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc winner Golani (Ire) (Nikos {GB}) and the multiple stakes winner Carla (Fr) (Cardoun {Fr}), who has produced two black type winners. It’s also the family of Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}), sire of the G1 Mackinnon S. winner Glass Harmonium (Ire).
Lost Light as a yearling
Trained by Team Hawkes, Lost Light is a $300,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate and was runner-up on debut before he had one more run and was then turned out. He won his two lead-up trials this time around and from the inside gate in the hands of Jay Ford, a bold first-up showing is anticipated.
Swan Hill Race 1, 1.30pm, Murray Downs Golf Maiden, $35,000, 1200m
Sign Of Ussuri (Fastnet Rock) was well backed in his first appearance in the autumn and he gave an encouraging account at Balaklava where he came from last to finish 5th. He hasn’t been sighted since, but the McEvoy stable has a good first-up strike rate and the richly-bred 3-year-old looks a strong chance.
Sign Of Ussuri as a yearling
A $200,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale buy, Sign Of Ussuri is a half-brother to the dual South African Group 1 winner Rumya (NZ (Red Ransom {USA}) and the two-time Group 2 winner Badawiya (Al Maher). Their dam Sayuri San (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) is out of a half-sister to the G2 Frank Packer Plate winner Royal Pardon (NZ) (Vice Regal {NZ}) with the second dam the former Australian Horse of the Year and multiple Group 1 winner Emancipation (Bletchingly).
