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 Friday, a More Than Ready (USA) filly debuts at Bendigo, while at Hawkesbury, a well-related Kiwi-bred youngster aims for another victory and an impressive first-up winner returns to the track at Ipswich.
Bendigo, Race 1, 12.30pm AEST, Apiam Animal Health 2YO Fillies Mdn, $31,500, 1000m
In what is a very open 2-year-old race, Autumn House (More Than Ready {USA}) shapes as an interesting prospect for Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra off a solid jump-out performance at Flemington last month.
More Than Ready (USA), sire of Autumn House
She was retained by her breeders to race and is out of the imported three-time winner Aeronwy (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), who has already produced the Hong Kong winner Villa Fionn (Sebring). Aeronwy's extended family features a host of European black-type winners as well as the Golden Slipper S., winner and top sire Flying Spur, with the third dam of this filly being the blue hen Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
Muswellbrook, Race 8, 4.35pm AEST, Two Rivers Wines Class 1, $22,000, 1280m
Showtime Lady (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) was debut winner at her first start, before returning from a spell in Saturday 2-year-old company in Sydney and not quite measuring up, being beaten just over 3l. Although against the older horses here, this looks a winnable race for the Brad Widdup-trained filly, who drew the outside barrier.
Showtime Lady (NZ) as a yearling
She was a $50,000 Magic Millions purchase for JHB Syndications and is a half-sister to Group 2 winner China Star (NZ) (Chinese Dragon {USA}), out of the O'Reilly (NZ) mare Venus Bay (NZ), who is a sister to Listed winner Belthazar (NZ).
Ipswich, Race 6, 2.47pm AEST, Under The Louvre @Grandview Stud Class 1, $21,000, 1380m
Strip It Down (Playing God) made a huge impression on her debut at Toowoomba last month, scorching away late to win by 7l, paying back her connections for the patience they have shown with her, having not debuted until late in her 4-year-old season.
Strip It Down as a yearling
Prior to that, she had had a trio of trials back in WA, where she was bred and sold for just $11,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. She is half-sister to multiple Malaysian stakes winner Mr Armstrong (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) from the extended family of stakes winners Grey Man (Family Of Man), Tolo Harbour (Success Express {USA}) and Roman Time (Danetime).
