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.
Today, we’re following an expensive yearling purchase and a lightly-tried filly from a smart family stepping out on the Kensington track while at Bendigo we like a 2-year-old who boasts a deep international pedigree.
Kensington, Race 1, 2:20pm, Astern @ Darley Plate, $50,000, 1100m
Osamu (Exceed And Excel) was runner-up over this course and distance last month behind Philizzy (Snitzel), who has since been Group 3 placed, so there’s every reason to expect the colt can go one better this time for Chris Waller.
Osamu as a yearling
A $1.7 million Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale graduate, Osamu is the first foal to race for the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. winner Written Dash (Written Tycoon). She is from a well-performed family that features the G1 TJ Smith S. winner and sire Sizzling, the G1 Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento (So You Think {NZ}) and the Listed Maribyrnong Plate winner Loving Cup (Bluebird {USA}), also third in the G1 Golden Slipper S.
Kensington, Race 2, 2:55pm, Pluck @ Vinery Plate, $50,000, 1100m
You Rang (Sebring) was unbeaten in both of her trials before she had her first race day outing at Kembla Grange. She led from a wide gate and was run down late to finish runner-up. The filly was then spelled and has returned to win a Randwick trial under Tim Clark, who takes the ride again.
The late Sebring, sire of You Rang
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, You Rang is a daughter of the former champion New Zealand 2-year-old Ruud Awakening (NZ) (Bernardini {USA}), winner of the G1 Diamond S. and the Karaka Million. She is out of a half-sister to the stakes winner Chester County (Hennessy {USA}) and the pedigree also features the multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1 performer Ruud Van Slaats (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Bendigo, Race 1, 3:05, Bet365 Maiden, $35,000, 1100m
Oregon Pinot (Lonhro) hasn’t been to any public trials, but the stable has an excellent strike rate with debut runners and this 2-year-old has an international pedigree to follow with confidence.
Lonhro, sire of Oregon Pinot
The Anthony Freedman-trained filly is a daughter of Saddaqa (USA) (Raven’s Pass {USA}). She is a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winner and sire Laverock (Ire) and to the dam of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner and successful sire Pierro and his G2 Wakeful S. winning half-sister Ambience (Street Cry {Ire}). The G2 Ribblesdale S. winner and G1 Pretty Polly S. runner-up Flying Cloud (Ire) (Storming Home {GB}) is another member of this well-performed family.
