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, an impressive Rubick colt looks for back-to-back wins at Moonee Valley for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, while Tony Gollan debuts two well-related fillies at the Sunshine Coast.
Moonee Valley, Race 1, 6.30pm AEDT, Seppelt Wins H., $50,000, 1000m
Zion (NZ) (Rubick) was an impressive recent winner at Bendigo for Maher and Eustace at his second start. He looks a colt capable of quick progression through his classes on the manner of that win but does strike what looks a fairly deep race here.
Rubick, sire of Zion (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore
The striking chestnut was purchased out of the Waikato Stud draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$360,000 to Suman Hedge Bloodstock and his future trainers. His dam, Kim Dynasty (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Arlingtonboulevard (NZ) (Spinning World {USA}) and Group 3 winner Europe To Africa (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Sunshine Coast, Race 2, 7.15pm AEDT (6.15pm local), Access Insulation QTIS 2YO H., $50,000, 1000m
In what looks a very interesting 2-year-old race, the Tony Gollan-trained Lolanka (More Than Ready {USA}) stands out as a filly worth following, especially after her dominant trial win at Doomben earlier this month.
More Than Ready (USA), sire of Lolanka | Standing at WinStar Farm
She was a $400,000 purchase from the Daandine Stud draft this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Cambridge Stud, in whose colours she debuts here. Her dam, Miss Milanese (Snitzel), is a sister to Group 3 winner Oakleigh Girl, who produced the $1.7 million sale-topping colt by I Am Invincible on the Gold Coast in 2019. The grandam is the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Miss Kournikova (Mr Greeley {USA}).
Sunshine Coast, Race 3, 7.45pm AEDT (6.45pm local), Beach To Bush Concreting QTIS 3YO Mdn, $21,000, 1000m
Gollan debuts another filly in Race 3, in the Sheamus Mills-owned Rakkaus (Not A Single Doubt), who has been close-up in both her trials this time in. She carries the same colours as recent G1 Thousand Guineas winner Odeum (Written Tycoon).
Rakkaus as a yearling
Rakkaus was a $280,000 buy out of the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Newgate Farm and is the first foal from the smart filly Nayeli (More Than Ready {USA}), who won a G3 Chairman's S. Nayeli is a half-sister to stakes-placed Brightest (Galileo {Ire}) out of the stakes-placed Danehill (USA) mare Wasimah. The Group 1 winner Kapchat (NZ) (Centaine) is the third dam on the page.
