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 Sunday, we concentrate our efforts on the Seymour fixture where we have found three maiden contenders who all performed creditably on debut and have the pedigrees to back their winning claims.
Seymour, Race 1, 1.05pm, TAC Be Races Ready Maiden, $35,000, 1600m
An internationally successful family looks likely to be to the fore here with Yulong Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the favoured way to go. The 4-year-old has been patiently handled and that approach started encouragingly when he got home strongly from the back of the field on debut to finish runner-up at Benalla. With the benefit of that run, he can go one better here.
Galileo, sire of Yulong Song
Yulong Song is a brother to the Leopardstown Ballyroan S. winner Spanish Steps (Ire) and their mother Turbulent Descent (USA) (Congrats {USA}) was a top class race mare, winning four times at Group 1 level. She is a grand-daughter of the two-time top-flight winner Gorgeous (USA) (Slew o’ Gold {USA}) and the family of the former champion French sprinter Desert Lord (GB) (Green Desert {USA}).
Seymour, Race 2, 1.40pm, Georgina & Co Super VOBIS Maiden, $35,000, 1300m
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Johnnyel (Zoustar) has a wide gate to contend with, but he drew the outside barrier on this track in his only appearance and did well to finish second. With some early luck he can be a major player with Brett Prebble to retain the ride.
Zoustar, sire of Johnnyel
Johnnyel is from the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Reinvent and she is out of a stakes-performed half-sister to Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga). He won nine times and collected four Group 1 titles during his decorated career. This is also the family of the G1 Goodwood H. winner and successful sire Keeper.
Seymour, Race 3, Chase Nightclub Maiden, $35,000, 1200m
Sea Dragon (Statue Of Liberty {USA}) produced a handy trial before he went to the races for the first time and performed strongly at Moonee Valley where he finished off generously to take third money. The colt will be ridden by Luke Nolen.
Statue Of Liberty, sire of Sea Dragon
Trained by Michael Kent, Sea Dragon is a half-brother to the multiple winners and black type placegetters Aim Smart (Smart Missile) and Jeanneau (Beneteau). They are out of North Sea (Hussonet), whose dam is a half-sister to Biwa Shinseiki (Jpn) (Forty Niner {USA}), a multiple stakes winner in Japan. The second dam is also a sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and champion sire Storm Bird (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
