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 Thursday a couple of well-bred fillies from the Freedman stable look to break their maidens at Ballarat, while at Hawkesbury, the only foal from a very good mare makes his debut for Peter and Paul Snowden.
Ballarat, Race 1, 1pm AEDT, Cressbells Fillies and Mares Mdn, $35,000, 1600m
Designs (Vancouver) has been building towards a maiden win for Anthony and Sam Freedman through her first two runs, a fourth at Sale and a third when well-supported last time out at Cranbourne. She looks well-placed out to the 1600 metres for the first time in this race.
Vancouver, sire of Designs | Standing at Coolmore
A homebred for GSA Bloodstock/Pinecliff Racing, she is the first foal to race out of multiple Group winner Zurella (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). The dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Devise (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and is closely related to New Zealand's leading 3-year-old of last season, Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), with the third dam a half-sister to the great Lonhro.
Hawkesbury, Race 2, 2.05pm AEDT, HRC Motel Mdn, $35,000, 1000m
Sirens (Exceed And Excel) makes his debut in the China Horse Club colours for Peter and Paul Snowden having looked very sharp in his two recent trials, winning them both with Regan Bayliss in the saddle, who takes the ride here after this colt was scratched from Kensington on Wednesday.
Exceed And Excel, sire of Sirens | Standing at Darley
He was a $500,000 buy at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the only foal out of the very talented mare Solicit (Street Cry {Ire}), who won five stakes races and was twice placed at Group 1 level. The second and third dams were also stakes winners, while Solicit's half-sister Star Of Giselle (Reset) was also a multiple Group winner.
Ballarat, Race 4, 2.30pm AEDT, Pipe Pro Directional Drilling Mdn, $35,000, 1200m
Camereta (Redoute's Choice) made just the one appearance as a 2-year-old, finishing eighth on a heavy track at Ballarat back in May, and has been prepared for her second campaign through a couple for recent jumpouts for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Camerata as a yearling
Purchased for $750,000 through the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, she boasts a very strong international pedigree, being out of the Japanese mare Bariloche (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who has produced a winner in Australia already. She is in turn out of Argentine Grade 1 winner Potrizaris (Arg) (Potrillazo {Arg}). She proved a successful broodmare in Japan, producing the Group 3 winner Dia De La Novia (Jpn) (Sunday Silence {USA}), who in turn produced a trio of stakes winners.
