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 focus on a lightly-tried galloper at Hawkesbury from the family of G1 Railway S. winner Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and a debut runner who has trialled encouragingly. At Werribee, we like the chances of a filly, a half-sister to a Group 2 winner, resuming after a brief but successful juvenile campaign.
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 1.40pm AEDT, 3Monkeez H., $35,000, 1000m
Hurt Money (I Am Invincible) showed promise last season when he made all the running on debut and was run down late to finish runner-up and then failed at his only other appearance. The colt subsequently enjoyed a break and has a win and a placing from his pair of lead-up trials to suggest he’s going to be hard to peg back here.
Hurt Money as a yearling
Sold by breeder Macquarie Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to E & E Bloodstock for $300,000, Hurt Money is a son of Zingaling (Redoute’s Choice) and she was successful three times, including in the G3 Birthday Card S. She is a half-sister to the G3 Mannerism S. winner Rainbow Styling (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Current top-flight performance has been added to this family by the G1 Railway S. winner Inspirational Girl.
Hawkesbury, Race 3, 2.50pm AEDT, Elite Electrical Services H., $35,000, 1500m
Sonic Tycoon (Written Tycoon) was initially offered by Woodside Park Stud at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale and sold for $70,000 before he failed to meet his $100,000 reserve at the Inglis Classic Sale. He is out of the four-time winner and stakes performer Transonic (Casino Prince), whose dam Jet Past (SAF) (Jet Master {SAF}) also won four races and placed twice at Group 1 level.
Sonic Tycoon as a yearling
It’s also the family of the five-time Group 1 winner Petrava (NZ) (Imposing {NZ}) and she produced the champion South African filly Hoeberg (NZ) (Maroof {USA}) and successful sire Jallad (USA). Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Sonic Tycoon has trialled well ahead of his debut and could be a 3-year-old to follow.
Werribee, Race 4, 3.05pm AEDT, Spendthrift Australia EOTY Cody Ross Plate, $35,000, 1100m
French Boss (Street Boss {USA}) was offered by breeder Blue Gum Farm at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale and was bought by trainer Shane Nicholls for $100,000. She is a half-sister to the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic winner La Falaise (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and their dam Exceedingly French (Exceed And Excel) won the Listed St Albans S. It’s a pedigree with a strong international flavour and includes Group winners Barbola (USA) (Diesis {GB}), Nordico (Ger) (Medicean {GB}) and Sir Lando (GB) (Lando {Ger}).
French Boss as a yearling
Unplaced on debut, French Boss showed sharp improvement at her only other appearance last season when she finished well to run second at Ballarat. She doesn’t meet a strong line-up here and from the inside gate with Jye McNeil to take the ride can make her presence felt.
