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 take in three venues with an expensive youngster set to successfully debut at Kembla Grange, at Randwick we’re expecting a bold first-up showing from a filly from a strong black type family and then at Flemington a colt making his first appearance has an outstanding European Group 1 pedigree.
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 1.20pm, Christmas @ Kembla 2YO, $35,000, 1000m
A $660,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, Bartley (Written Tycoon) has done everything expected of him so far with success in his only appearance at the trials. His dam Rationality (Flying Spur) is a winning sister to Mentality, who collected three Group 1 titles.
Bartley as a yearling
Also appearing in the pedigree is the G3 Skyline S. winner I’m All The Talk (Stratum) and his multiple stakes winning brother Straturbo. Another significant member of this family is the Inglis Premier two-year-old winner Gold Force (Flying Spur) so there is plenty of pace and class for Bartley to draw on.
Randwick, Race 4, $500,000 Inglis Nursery, 1000m
Spirituality (Spirit Of Boom) is a half-sister to four winners and her dam Matinee (Flying Spur) was twice successful as a 2-year-old and she has also produced the mother of the Listed Mick Dittman Plate winner Tiyatrolani (Captain Sonador). Matinee is also a half-sister to the four-time Group 2 winner Staging (NZ) (Success Express {USA}).
Spirit Of Boom, sire of Spirituality
She in turn has left the Group 1 winners and sires Duporth and Excites while champion South African colt and sire Delago Deluxe is also a member of this speedy family. Spirituality has won her only trial and will have the benefit of an inside gate in a big field.
Flemington, Race 1, 3.00pm, #LovetheHorse, $125,000, 1100m
Stonefield (Deep Field) is from a well-performed international family and a recent trial success at Albury showed he could be a force to be reckoned with on debut. The colt, who will be ridden by Noel Callow, is a son of Cast In Stone (Redoute’s Choice), and she won five races.
Deep Field, sire of Stonefield
She is out of a sister to the dual Group 1 winner and sire Brian Boru (GB) and a three-quarter sister to the multiple Group 2 winner Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}). Other top performers in the family include champion European colt Workforce (GB) (King’s Best {USA}) and the G1 Caulfield Cup winner Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).
