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 Wednesday, we check out two 3-year-olds trained by Chris Waller looking to break their maidens at Sandown and Canterbury, while a couple of 'Legends' are set to debut for Les Bridge.
Canterbury Race 1, 2:20pm AEDT, Street Boss @ Darley H., $50,000, 1250m
April Rain (Pierro) debuted with an excellent closing second behind Quantico (I Am Invincible) at Canterbury earlier this month and looks well poised to break her maiden here for Chris Waller and James McDonald.
April Rain as a yearling
She was a $500,000 yearling purchase from the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Waller, Guy Mulcaster and her current owner Hermitage Thoroughbreds and is a three-quarter sister to the multiple stakes winner Black Minx (Lonhro), the dam of Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}). Her Group 2 winning dam, Faith Hill (Danehill {USA}), has also produced the stakes-placed More Than Faith (More Than Ready {USA}) as well as three other winners.
Canterbury Race 2, 2:55pm AEDT, Headwater @ Vinery H., $50,000, 1250m
Two 'Legends' debut here for Les Bridge and owner Bon Ho, both of whom were purchased through the 2018 Easter Yearling Sale.
Olympic Legend (Olympic Glory {Ire}) cost $250,000 and is out of Ready Magic (More Than Ready {USA}), who has already produced a stakes-placegetter in Rockford (Flying Spur) and is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Trezevant (Flying Spur) from the prolific 'Tennessee' family.
Olympic Legend as a yearling
Savvy Legend (NZ) (Savabeel) was a $200,000 buy and is out of Donna Cattiva (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}), who was a Listed winning sister to Group 1 winner Il Quello Veloce (GB) and blood sister to another Group 1 winner in Terravista.
Sandown Lakeside Race 2, 3:40pm AEDT, Le Pine Funerals Plate, $50,000, 1300m
Waller also resumes Escondido (Snitzel) off a three start 2-year-old campaign in Sydney, which saw him competitive against some useful horses without really threatening. He has headed to the Melbourne stable and has had a trio of recent jump-outs at Flemington, the latest which we won well after setting the pace.
Escondido as a yearling
He was a $400,000 buy for Waller and Mulcaster, again at the 2018 Easter Sale. He is out of Group 2 winner Dances On Waves (Anabaa {USA}), who has produced two other winners and is closely related to Group 1 winners Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Ancient Song (Canny Lad).
