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, at Pakenham, a filly from Matt Laurie's stable looks to go one better than her debut, at Scone, we check in on a recent stable acquisition for Nathan Doyle, while at Goulburn, Team Snowden seeks a win from a daughter of Exceed And Excel.
Pakenham Synthetic, Race 1, 12.30pm AEST, Racing.com Mdn, $31,500, 1000m
Kick It Baby (Shamus Award) showed a bit of promise on her recent debut at Ballarat, finishing second behind Peggy Selene (Rubick), who was just beaten in city class at her next start. This race looms no tougher than that and you'd expect her to have taken improvement off her debut.
Kick It Baby as a yearling
She was a $32,000 purchase for her trainer Matt Laurie at the 2019 Inglis Gold Sale. Her dam Rocket Baby (Danzero) has produced a trio of winners in Carterista (Bushranger), Explosive Witness (Star Witness) and Private Edition (Shamus Award). The black type in the family comes through the third dam Rockets Galore (Whiskey Road {USA}), who was a dual Group 3 winner.
Scone, Race 2, 12.55pm AEST, Welcome Back Guests Mdn, $22,000, 900m
Well-bred filly Be Brilliant (Exceed And Excel) has had a change of stables and states and begins her New South Wales career under the guidance of Nathan Doyle having campaigned previously for Victorian trainer Shane Nichols, with whom she has managed a couple of placings.
Be Brilliant as a yearling
She was a $140,000 purchase for James Bester and Nichols at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is out of Listed winner Alberton Park (NZ) (Thorn Park), which is a family with plenty of black-type performers including Group 1 winners Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Brutal (NZ).
Goulburn, Race 5, 2.35pm AEST, Divalls Earthmoving Mdn, $22,000, 1000m
High Sands (Exceed And Excel) resumes for Peter and Paul Snowden having had one start back in January where she failed to measure up to market expectations. She has had two quiet trials leading into her return to the track.
High Sands as a yearling
Stonestreet Stables was the winning bidder on her when she fetched $320,000 through last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she continues to race in their colours. Her dam, Kozakov (Lonhro) was unraced and this is her first foal. This filly's granddam, Downhill Racer (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), won a G2 Magic Night S. and is from the family of stakes-winners Schubert (Salieri {USA}), Recast (Thunder Gulch {USA}), Gonski (Danehill {USA}) and Pinezero (Danzero).
