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 are expecting a pair of well-related 3-year-olds to post their first winning strikes at Hawkesbury and at Cranbourne a colt out of a Group 1 winner looks a strong chance to register a home track success.
Hawkesbury, Race 2, 1.50pm AEDT, Blacktown Workers’ Club H., $35,000, 1000m
Snitzinnati (Snitzel) has made a strong start to her career and the 3-year-old has a golden opportunity to double her winning account. She was successful on debut and followed up with a fourth placing in stronger company. The filly has drawn well and against a modest line-up she looks the way to go.
Snitzinnati as a yearling
Trained by Gerald Ryan, she is a daughter of Soiree Girl (Rory’s Jester) and all eight of her foals to race have been successful, including the G2 Schillaci S. winner Alpha Miss (Lucky Owners {NZ}), who also claimed two Listed events. The dam is a sister to the stakes-winner Rory’s Classic and a half-sister to the G3 Tasmanian Derby winner Party Boy (Jeune {GB}).
Hawkesbury, Race 3, 2.35pm AEDT, Sweepstakes Maiden, $35,000, 1300m
Duty (Fastnet Rock) was a $1 million Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase and is a son of the Encosta De Lago mare Risk Aversion, who won five races and one at stakes level. She is a half-sister to the multiple Group 2 winner Shania Dane (Danehill {USA}) and her brother Scintillation was a Listed winner in Hong Kong.
Duty as a yearling
The family also includes the G1 Auckland Diamond S. winner and sire Summer Passage and the G2 Hobartville S. winner Man From Uncle (Uncle Mo {USA}). Duty is trained by John O’Shea and was fourth when resuming in January and has since won a trial. He should appreciate the step up in trip and looks a strong chance to post his first win.
Cranbourne, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, Frankston Mazda Maiden, $35,000, 1500m
Alphaville (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was a NZ$70,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale purchase for trainer Francis Finnegan, who prepared his dam Eileen Dubh (NZ) (Storm Creek {USA}) to win the G1 Levin Classic before moving his operation across the Tasman.
Alphaville (NZ)
The mare is a sister to the dam of the G2 Avondale Cup winner Sacred Master (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the family of the Group 1 winners Culminate (NZ) (Elnadim {USA}) and Captivate (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}). Alphaville has finished runner-up in both of his appearances and on pedigree should relish the move up in distance.
