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 put the spotlight on a first-timer at Warwick Farm with trial form to back his claims while an expensive youngster makes a fresh start and he too has looked good in his latest trial. At Ladbrokes Park, a 2-year-old making his first appearance has a pedigree to suggest he can make an impact over 1000 metres.
Warwick Farm, Race 1, 12.50pm AEST, Exceedance @ Vinery H., $45,000, 1400m
Acrophobic (Dissident) has finished runner-up in both of his recent trials at Randwick without been extended and was ridden both times by James McDonald, who sticks with the colt. It looks a competitive line-up here, despite a lack of numbers, and the John O’Shea-trained runner may offer some each way value.
Acrophobic as a yearling
A $180,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale buy, Acrophobic is out of the multiple black type placegetter Sense Of Hite (NZ) (Street Sense {USA}), whose first foal Quintessa (Pierro) finished third in the G1 Australian Oaks. It’s a handy stakes-performing family that includes the black type winners Etymology (New Approach {Ire}) who was also twice Group 1 placed, Dirty (Hussonet {USA}) and Whitlam (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Warwick Farm, Race 5, 3.10pm AEST, Blue Point @ Darley H., $45,000, 1300m
There will be considerable interest here in the return of the lightly-tried Faretti (I Am Invincible), who cost $2 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He has yet to justify that price tag, but there is plenty of time and a recent open trial win was proof enough of his readiness to shine from an inside gate.
Faretti as a yearling
He is a son of the Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Tai Tai Tess (Magic Albert) with the second dam the dual Group 1 winner Arborea (Imperial Prince {Ire}), who produced the G2 Del Mar H. winner and top-flight performer Delta Girl (Marscay). It’s also the family of the multiple Group 2 winner and sire Drumbeats and the South African Group 3 winner High Seas Beauty (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Ladbrokes Park, Race 1, 12.25pm AEST, Long Fine Plate, $40,000, 1000m
Dark Horse (Nicconi) has a speedy pedigree and from the inside gate he could put that to good use in a field with little exposed form. The colt is a half-brother to the G2 Bobbie Lewis H. winner Churchill Dancer (Churchill Downs) and their dam Dark Review (Second Empire {Ire}) won twice over sprint distances.
Nicconi, sire of Dark Horse | Standing at Widden Stud
She is a half-sister to the two-time stakes-winner Cohort (Scenic {Ire}) with the G3 Western Australian Oaks winner Dark Choice (Redoute’s Choice) another family member. Trained at Lindsay Park, Dark Horse hasn’t been to any official trials, but in an open line-up might be worth taking a chance on.
