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, a filly with a speedy background has our attention at Grafton while at Swan Hill we like the chances of a pair of maiden contenders who come from well-performed international families.
Grafton, Race 2, 1.50pm, Red Hot Hair Maiden, $22,000, 1200m
Le Figaro (Dream Ahead {USA}) hit the line well when she finished fourth in her only appearance last season on the Kensington track at Randwick. Trainer Matthew Dunn then opted to spell the filly and she has trialled well ahead of her return and from a handy gate she looks set to make an impact.
Le Figaro as a yearling
She is a daughter of French News (Anabaa {USA}), who is a half-sister to the G3 Healy S. winner News Alert (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). There is plenty of speed in the pedigree with the second dam a half-sister to the former top 2-year-old, G1 Golden Slipper S. winner and sire Star Watch. The G3 Vo Rogue Plate winner Graceful Anna (Canny Lad) and the Listed Creswick S. winner She Can Skate (Bradbury’s Luck) are also members of this family.
Swan Hill, Race 1, 1.30pm, Murray Downs Golf & Club Maiden, $23,000, 1300m
A $300,000 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale graduate, Yulong Boom (Spirit Of Boom) is a half-brother to two multiple winners. Their dam Moulin Lady (Reset) was successful four times, including victory in the Listed Princess S. and is a half-sister to the European black type winner and G2 Richmond S. runner-up Bannock (Ire) (Bertolini {USA}).
Yulong Boom as a yearling
The former Canadian Horse of the Year Never Retreat (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}) and the G3 PJ Bell S. winner Diddums (Snitzel) also feature in the pedigree. Yulong Boom finished fifth on a wet track at his first appearance earlier this month and with the benefit of that run and the likelihood of a better surface should see him more competitive.
Swan Hill, Race 4, 3.00pm, Busbiz Maiden Plate, $23,000, 1600m
Adie (Americain {USA}) is a half-sister to the G3 Maurice McCarten H. winner and G1 Galaxy H. placegetter Easy Eddie (Super Easy {NZ}). They are out of Twin Town (GB) (Halling {GB}), the winner of four races up to 2050 metres, and she is a half-sister to the G3 Joel S. winner Confront (GB) (Nayef {USA}).
Americain (USA), sire of Adie
Their dam Contiguous (USA) (Danzig {USA}) is an unraced half-sister to the G1 English Oaks winner Reams Of Verse (USA) (Nureyev {USA}) and the two-time Group 1 winner Elmaamul (USA) (Diesis {GB}). Adie stayed on well to finish fourth at her debut over 1400 metres and the step up to a mile, on pedigree, should be ideal for her.
