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 Saturday, we like the chances at Kembla Grange of a debut runner with a rich international pedigree and a filly with stakes form already on the board, and at Caulfield an expensive youngster has the opportunity for an early deposit to her bank account.
Kembla Grange, Race 2, 2.04pm, The Disability Trust Maiden, $35,000m, 1000m
Mark Newnham’s stable is in grand form and he has another top winning prospect here in Shadow Colour (Hinchinbrook). The 4-year-old has been handled with patience, and off the back of a trial win at Warwick Farm that approach may have a first-up reward. Koby Jennings has the ride and from an inside gate he will be able to give the gelding every possible opportunity.
Hinchinbrook, sire of Shadow Colour
A NZ$460,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale purchase, Shadow Colour is out of the unraced El Ashb (Ire) (Fasliyev {USA}), whose three foals to race are all multiple winners. She is a half-sister to the black type winner Judhoor (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}) and the second dam Al Bahathri (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}) won the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and produced the dual Group 1 winner Haafhd (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}). It’s also the family of the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}).
Kembla Grange, Race 4, Kids Fund Maiden, $35,000, 1000m
Diddles (Snitzel) will be at short odds here and it’s hard to see her colours lowered on her return following a recent trial win. She has been off the scene for some time and hasn’t run since she was runner-up in her only appearance in the G3 Gimcrack S.
Diddles as a yearling
A half-sister to four winners, Diddles is a daughter of the G2 Tristarc S. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Mimi Lebrock (Show A Heart), who was a $1.025 million Inglis Sydney Easter Broodmare Sale buy. She is a half-sister to the Group 3 winners Heavenly Thought (So You Think {NZ}) and Shoko (Sebring) and a pedigree page littered with North American black type winners.
Caulfield, Race 1, Inglis Debutant S., $175,000, 1000m
Pounce (More Than Ready {USA}) has an early opportunity here to repay some of the $400,000 outlaid for her at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Her dam Passion Cheval (Fastnet Rock) was successful at 1200 metres and is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 placegetter Calming Influence (Commands).
Pounce as a yearling
Their dam Calming (Zeditave) was a stakes winner and she’s a half-sister to the dam of the G1 Clairwood Mercury Sprint winner and G1 Golden Jubilee S. runner-up War Artist (Orpen {USA}). Trained by Team Hawkes, Pounce has trialled well in Sydney and won her latest 900 metre heat at Rosehill.
