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, we check out a trio of runners owned by international operations. We start out at Canberra, where a Snitzel filly looks to break her maiden for Emirates Park, before heading to Ballarat, where we have a Kingman (GB) filly having her second start for Yulong, and a Zoustar colt on debut for Spendthrift Australia.
Canberra, Race 2, 12.55pm AEST, John McGrath Auto Group H., $20,000, 1000m
Emirates Park-owned Waafiya (Snitzel) wasn't too far away on debut when fifth in a midweek Canterbury maiden, finishing just behind subsequent winner Tiny (Lonhro). This shapes as a good drop in class for the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly.
Waafiya as a yearling
She was a $570,000 buy for Emirates Park and manager Bryan Carlson at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is out of You're So Good (NZ) (Savabeel), who was a Listed winner and Group 1-placed filly out of the family of multiple stakes-winner Cloister (Marauding {NZ}) and her two-time Group 1-winning daughter Melito (Redoute's Choice). That is also the extended families of stallions Pariah and Zeditave.
Ballarat Synthetic, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Suez Fillies and Mares Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1400m
Dress (Kingman {GB}) looked good on her debut at this track over 1200 metres last time out, closing well, albeit a good margin from the winner, to finish second in a performance which indicates she will appreciate distance in time.
Kingman (GB), sire of Dress | Standing at Juddmonte Farm
Bred by Yulong, she is a rare Australian-bred foal of Kingman (GB). Her dam, Cross Cave (GB) (Rail Link {GB}) is from the family of G1 Sydney Cup winner Stand To Gain (Ire) (Hawk Wing {USA}), with her granddam Valentine Girl (GB) (Alzao {USA}) a winner of the Listed Cheshire Oaks. Further back in the pedigree are international Group 1 winners Raintrap (GB) (Rainbow Quest {USA}), Sunshack (Rainbow Quest {USA}), Meteor Storm (GB) (Bigstone {Ire}), Polish Summer (GB) (Polish Precedent {USA}) and Winsili (Dansili {GB}).
Ballarat Synthetic, Race 3, 2pm AEST, Polytrack 3YO Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1100m
Loca (Zoustar) carries a bit of a profile into his debut, being a $900,000 yearling buy for Spendthrift Australia from the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is out of imported stakes-winning mare Shakeira (USA) (Freud {USA}), which is the family of American stakes winners Mister Marti Gras (USA) (Belong To Me {USA}), City Attraction (USA) (Vicar {USA}) and Grace's Treasure (USA) (Rockport Harbour {USA}).
Trained by Team Hawkes, this colt has had a couple of jump-outs in the lead-up and at the most recent finished off reasonably well in a heat won by stakes-placed filly Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai).
Loca as a yearling
