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 Thursday, we follow a trio of 2-year-olds, an Exceed And Excel colt on debut at Sale, a Fastnet Rock gelding looking to break his maiden at Kembla Grange and a recent trial winner by Press Statement, who kicks his career off at Grafton.
Sale, Race 1, 12.30pm AEST, Welcome Mackenna Mae 2YO Mdn, $31,500, 1110m
Little Town Blues (Exceed And Excel) has a strong pedigree being a brother to international Group 1 winner Amber Sky out of the Group 2-winning mare Truly Wicked (Rubiton), who has produced four other winners. This colt was retained to race by the Pope family.
Exceed And Excel, sire of Little Town Blues | Standing at Darley
He has had a couple of recent jump-outs, including one at Cranbourne last month, where he showed plenty of pace to lead them up and held on to win comfortably. He looks well-placed to make a winning debut in what is a winnable maiden.
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 12.35pm AEST, Wave FM 2YO H., $35,000, 1000m
War Memorial (Fastnet Rock) debuted with a third in Listed company back in December and while his subsequent run at Gosford in his first start since being gelded did not live up to expectations, he looks to be back in form off his recent two trials at Randwick, the most recent of which he won.
War Memorial as a yearling
He was a $680,000 purchase for China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is out of the well-related imported mare Smokin' Alice (USA) (Smoke Glacken {USA}), who has also produced the multiple stakes placegetter Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock) and the $1 million Exceed And Excel colt that sold to Gerald Ryan and David Raphael at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
Grafton, Race 4, 2.05pm AEST, NBN Springboard To Fame 2YO Showcase, $45,000, 1200m
In the feature 2-year-old race of the Grafton carnival, the debutant Full Press (Press Statement) creates plenty of interest. He looked good winning a recent trial at this track for trainer Brett Dodson and is drawn to figure prominently throughout.
Full Press as a yearling
It took three attempts to sell him, with Ardross Bloodstock paying NZ$40,000 for him at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs after he was passed in at both the Magic Millions Gold Coast and National Sales earlier in the year. He is the first foal from city-winner Max It Out (Northern Meteor), the daughter of Listed winner Is Amazing (Laranto) from the family of Group 1 winner Ancient Song (Canny Lad).
