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 of a well-related filly on debut at Kembla Grange while at Ballarat we have settled on a 2-year-old whose dam won at the highest level and a lightly-tried colt who won well enough last time out to suggest he can make his mark in stronger company.
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 1.15pm, Marty Christie & Crammy Breakfast Maiden, $125,000, 1000m
Found Our Thrill (Vancouver) was a $240,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase and is the first representative of Blueberry Hill (Myboycharlie {Ire}), winner of four races including the G2 BRC Champagne Classic. The second dam Brief Kiss (Brief Truce {USA}) was a multiple stakes winner and the family of the dual Group 1 winner and sire Rebel Raider and the G3 Norman Robinson S. winner and sire Shamoline Warrior.
Vancouver, sire of Found Our Thrill
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Found Our Thrill has been prominent at the trials with a couple of placings, including a runner-up finish behind the subsequent Max Lees Classic winner Tilla Rose (Written Tycoon).
Ballarat, Race 4, 2.05pm, Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic, $250,000, 1000m
Euphoric Summer (Not A Single Doubt) impressed on debut for Mick Price and Michael Kent junior when she finished runner-up in the Listed Debutant S. at Caulfield. She was in the leading party all the way and boxed on gamely and is certain to have derived benefit from the race day experience.
Not A Single Doubt, sire of Euphoric Summer
A $260,000 Gold Coast yearling buy, Euphoric Summer is out of the G1 Stradbroke H. and dual Group 3 winner Mid Summer Music (Oamaru Force). It’s a pedigree with a strong North American influence with the G1 Belmont Metropolitan H. winner Czaravich (USA) (Nijinsky {Can}) among the family members.
Ballarat, Race 5, 2.40pm, Magnum Equine VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade, $175,000, 1400m
Zorro’s Dream (Toronado {Ire}) has been quickly out of the blocks and following a debut second at Cranbourne he had no trouble going one better at Kyneton. He was strong through the line there over 1200 metres so stepping out over a bit more ground is unlikely to worry the colt.
Toronado (Ire), sire of Zorro's Dream
He is a son of the two-time sprint winner Il Sogno (Elvstroem) and she is a daughter of the G2 Sunline S. winner Tickle My (Perugino {USA}), who was also twice successful at Group 3 level. The pedigree page also features I’ll Have A Bit (Smart Missile), who is the winner of the G2 Euclase S. and the G3 National S. and finished third in the G1 Goodwood H.
