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.
Today, we’re banking on a change of stable to bring out the best in a maiden from the family of champion mare Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) at Wyong where we also fancy a debut runner who has trialled well. At Sale, we focus on lightly-tried 4-year-old from a Group 1-winning international pedigree.
Wyong, Race 3, 2pm AEST, Tracside Automotive H., $35,000, 1100m
Oslo (Pierro) has yet to live up to his rich pedigree, but he does get a good opportunity here to add a belated victory to his record. He has posted three runner-up finishes in his brief career and showed he was ready to go one better with a pair of solid trial performances ahead of resuming.
Oslo as a yearling
He will be making his first appearance from Bjorn Baker’s stable and often a change of environment can have the desired result. Oslo was originally a $400,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale graduate before changing hands again for $100,000 at the Inglis Digital October Sale. He is out of a half-sister to G1 The Galaxy winner and sire Magnus and the immediate family of the great Black Caviar.
Wyong, Race 4, 2.36pm AEST, Team Thoroughbred Plate, $35,000, 1200m
Echo Point (Sebring) was a $320,000 purchase at the Inglis Premier Sale and is a son of the Listed Natasha S. winner and G2 Western Australian Guineas runner-up Caiguna (Dubai Destination {USA}). All four of her foals to race have been successful including the Group 2 performer Serena Bay (Sebring).
Echo Point as a yearling
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Echo Point has been well-schooled at the trials and finished second at Randwick in his most recent appearance. The colt has a handy gate and will be ridden by Tim Clark, who has been aboard the 3-year-old at the trials.
Sale, Race 2, 12.55pm AEST, Ladbrokes Plate, $35,000, 1200m
Rubick Kingdom (Rubick) had heavy support in his first outing and he went close to pulling his supporters through when he finished second on the synthetic track at Pakenham. Dwayne Dunn takes the reins here and from a handy barrier they look more than capable of going one better.
Rubick, sire of Rubick Kingdom | Standing at Coolmore Stud
Prepared by Team Hawkes, Rubick Kingdom was a $200,000 buy at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is a half-brother to four winners. The dam Cone (Redoute’s Choice) is an unraced half-sister to the G3 Turffontein Sycamore Sprint winner Tiger’s Touch (Where’s That Tiger {USA}) and the family of the G1 Royal Ascot Coronation S. winner Rebecca Sharp (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}).
