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, a half-brother to a Melbourne Cup winner resumes at Moe, while at Kembla Grange a John O'Shea filly from a successful family debuts and John Sargent looks to further the longer-term Group 1 ambitions for a close relation to G1 Australian Derby winner Shoot Out (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Moe Race 3, 1:40pm AEDT, Hit FM Maiden Plate, $35,000, 1600m
Grinzinger Jakkal (NZ) (Jakkalberry {GB}) returns to the track having had one run as a 3-year-old for Jason Warren, finishing ninth before being spelled. He has had a couple of trials ahead of this first-up attempt at then 1600 metres and looks ready to put his staying pedigree to the test this campaign.
Jakkalberry (GB), sire of Grinzinger Jakkal (NZ)
Purchased for NZ$440,000 out of the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale at Karaka, he is by a Melbourne Cup placegetter and is a half-brother to G1 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel). That also makes him a half-brother to Group 2 winner and stallion Guillotine (NZ).
Kembla Grange Race 5, 3:50pm AEDT, Carrington Falls F&M Maiden Hcp, $35,000, 1200m
In a race where there are a few debutants, Rocha Clock (Pierro) stands out as a recent Randwick trial winner with a bit of a pedigree. The John O'Shea trained filly sat outside the pace in that trial and looked to have a bit on her opposition and looks poised to make an impression at her first start.
Rocha Clock as a yearling
She is out of the Group 2 winner Rocha (Encosta De Lago), who has already produced a trio of winners in Whiskey Shooter (Sebring), Nova Rocha (New Approach {Ire}) and Carajillo (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}). The second dam, Laroccha (Danehill {USA}), was a winner of the G1 South Australian Oaks and is a sister to the Group 1 winner and Champion WA stallion Blackfriars as well as three other stakes-winners. She cost $200,000 through the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange Race 8, 5:40pm AEDT, Yellow Rock BM 64 Hcp, $35,000, 2000m
John Sargent has a habit of producing a good staying filly at this time of year and the G1 Kennedy Oaks nominated Stick 'Em Up (Dundeel {NZ}) steps up to the 2000 metres for the first time here against benchmark company despite still being eligible for a maiden. She has shown patches of talent in her four starts to date, but always promised to be at her best once she got out in distance.
Stick 'Em Up as a yearling
She was a $110,000 buy out of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and is a sister in blood to the multiple Group 1 winner Shoot Out (High Chaparral {Ire}). She is out of Shoot Out's half-sister Shoot Fer Love (Ferocity) and is by in form stallion Dundeel (NZ), who is of course a son of High Chaparral. It's a real Classic family which also features a G3 WA Oaks winner in Cassandara Shadow (Johannesburg {USA}), while the G2 Craiglee S. winner and G2 Adelaide Cup placegetter Native Jazz (St Hilarion {USA}) also features on the page.
