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 are in the camp at Newcastle of a well-related filly making her first appearance and a lightly-tried relative to a pair of stakes winners. At Caulfield, we are confident of a Group-performed filly shining in a fresh state.
Newcastle, Race 2, 2.09pm AEST, Richard Crookes Construction Plate, $35,000, 1250m
Social Distancing (Sebring) has been given a thorough grounding ahead of her debut with three trial outings and she has won two of them. The latest of them was at Gosford and she did it well enough to suggest a strong first-up showing.
Social Distancing as a yearling
Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Social Distancing is a half-sister to the Listed Chief De Beers winner The Virginian (Hinchinbrook), who also ran third in the G1 Stradbroke H., and their dam is the unraced Redwood Dancer (USA) (Forestry {USA}). She is out of the G2 Louisville Breeders’ Cup winner Fiery Pursuit (USA) (Carson City {USA}) with the pedigree also featuring the G1 Frizette S. winner Flanders (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}), dam of the G1 Starlet S. winner Surfside (USA) (Seattle Slew {USA}).
Newcastle, Race 3, 1.44pm AEST, AVID PM Plate, $35,000, 900m
Zorocat (Toronado {Ire}) was a $150,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase and she is a half-sister to the black-type winners Pure Purrfection (General Nediym), who has produced the three-time Listed winner Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom), and Global Warming (Agnes World {USA}) They are out of She’s Purring (Flying Spur), twice successful at Listed level.
Trained by Damien Lane, Zorocat has placed twice in a brief career and hasn’t raced since she finished runner-up at Tamworth. She was a recent runaway trial winner at Wyong under jockey Darryl McLellan, who takes the mount again.
Zorocat as a yearling
Caulfield, Race 3, 1.40pm AEST, 4cyte For Living Legends 3YO, $135,000, 1000m
Muntaseera (I Am Invincible) performed well in strong company last season with success at Rosehill and placings in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude on this course and in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. She hasn’t raced since Randwick, but is good fresh and has to rate highly.
From the powerful stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Muntaseera is out of the unraced Moosirra (Redoute’s Choice), a sister to the former champion colt and G1 Greyville Golden Horseshoe winner Musir and a half-sister to Group winners Merhee (Elusive Quality {USA}) and Moofeed (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). Another feature of the pedigree of the presence of the champion sire King Kamehameha (Jpn).
I Am Invincible, sire of Muntaseera | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
