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 Wednesday, colts by Deep Impact (Jpn) and I Am invincible look to break their maidens at Canterbury, while a sister to a Group 1 winner resumes for Nigel Blackiston at Cranbourne.
Canterbury, Race 1, 12.50pm AEST, Alabama Express @ Yulong H., $50,000, 1550m
Solar Apex (Deep Impact {Jpn}) looks to have his share of ability based on his debut run, when narrowly beaten for third in a 1600 metre maiden at Gosford for trainer Chris Waller. Owned by Northern Farm, he was a $300,000 purchase from the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Katsumi Yoshida.
Solar Apex as a yearling
He is out of Aspen Summit (Fastnet Rock), the sister to G1 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights, who herself is the dam of Group 2 winner Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}). It's a very strong international pedigree, with this colt's half-brother by Dundeel (NZ) selling for $270,000 at this week's Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Cranbourne, Race 3, 1.35pm AEST, TAB Long May We Play Mdn, $35,000, 1300m
Emerald Crown (Needs Further), the younger sister of Group 1 winner Mystic Journey, returns to the track having impressed without winning in her three starts last campaign for trainer Nigel Blackiston. She was third at Sandown then runner-up at Ballarat and you’d expect her to make quick time of breaking her maiden this time in.
Emerald Crown as a yearling
She was purchased for $55,000 at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Sale, just as her older sister was proving herself Tasmania's best 2-year-old in 2018. As Mystic Journey's resume has grown to include six stakes wins, including a G1 Australian Guineas, as well as an All-Star Mile, so too has the residual value of her siblings. It’s a pedigree which features a double cross to two blue hen mares in Eight Carat's dam Klairessa (GB) (Klairon {Fr}) and Zabeel's (NZ) dam Lady Giselle (Fr) (Nureyev {USA}).
Canterbury, Race 3, 2pm AEST, Bowermans Commercial Furniture Mdn, $50,000, 1100m
Hurt Money (I Am Invincible) was well-supported on debut for Peter and Paul Snowden at Gosford when beaten by highly-rated 3-year-old The Face (Rubick). That came off the back of a couple of strong trials, so you’d expect him to be peaking heading into this race second-up.
Hurt Money as a yearling
He was a $300,000 buy for E and E Bloodstock at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Macquarie Stud. His dam, the Group 3 winner Zingaling (Redoute's Choice), has left the winners Knit 'n' Purl (More Than Ready {USA}) and Happy Warrior (More Than Ready {USA}), and is a half-sister to Group winner Rainbow Styling (Zabeel {NZ}) as well the dams of stakes winners Demonetization (All Too Hard), Neverland (Big Brown {USA}) and Ruetigger (Duporth).
