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 keen on the chances at Cessnock of a pair of lightly-raced maiden prospects with Group 1 form close up in their pedigrees while at Warrnambool we’re expecting a bold resuming run from a New Zealand-bred who has a perfect Australian record.
Cessnock, Race 3, 1.10pm AEST, Hunter Valley Premium Meats Mdn, $20,000, 900m
Daltoro (Toronado {Ire}) was a trial winner before the chestnut went to the races and, at the first time of asking, produced a bold performance to finish third at Scone. Natural improvement from that outing should see him hard to roll in this.
Daltoro as a yearling
Prepared by Kris Lees, the 3-year-old was a $70,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase and as the first foal of Daliniwave (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who won four times, boasts a tidy international pedigree. The headline act is the G1 Hong Kong Vase and G1 Takarazuka Kinen winner Satono Crown (Jpn) (Marju {Jpn}) while his sister Lightening Pearl (Ire) won the G1 Newmarket Cheveley Park S.
Cessnock, Race 4, 1.50pm AEST, Cessnock Advertiser Mdn, $20,000, 1350m
The lightly-tried Most Welcome (Exceed And Excel) trialled well for trainer John Sargent before he was narrowly beaten when runner-up at Kembla Grange last month. He will surely be all the better for the outing and against a modest line-up he looks a strong winning chance.
Most Welcome as a yearling
A $550,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate, Most Welcome is a half-brother to Zac Spirit (Flying Spur), a multiple stakes winner in Singapore, and to Zac Influence (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), also a black type winner. Their dam Kidman (Quest For Fame {GB}) was a winner and twice placed at Group level. She is a daughter of the two-time stakes-winner Unison (Marauding {NZ}), who also placed in the G1 The Galaxy H.
Warrnambool, Race 9, 4.30pm AEST, DeBortoli H., $20,000, 1200m
Our Wind Spirit (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is coming back from a break, but in a light career has showed he is effective off a spell. Placed on debut in New Zealand, he is unbeaten in Australia with a pair of wins last year at Ballarat and looks capable of making his mark in stronger company.
Per Incanto (USA), sire of Our Wind Spirit (NZ) | Standing at Little Avondale Stud
A half-brother to four winners, including the G2 Great Northern Guineas runner-up Endowment (NZ) (Savabeel), Our Wind Spirit is a son of the unraced Pins mare Timpin (NZ). She is out of a half-sister to the G3 Tauranga S. winner Just Aqua (NZ) (Justice Prevails) and the family of the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Elevenses (NZ) (Star Way {GB}).
