Images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan Photography
Sargent has a lofty opinion of Four Moves Ahead and it was easy to see why after the 2-year-old overcame a wide run and a rain-affected track to post a hollow victory in the Schweppes H.
The expatriate New Zealand horseman has already enjoyed success with the family, having produced her older half-sister Emeralds (Sebring) to win the G3 Angst H. and she was also runner-up in the G2 Golden Pendant.
Both horses are raced by Jonathan Munz under his Pinecliff Racing banner, and Four Moves Ahead was the subject of heavy support off the back of a pair of Randwick trial victories last month.
‘She’s been a lovely filly from day one and she showed her potential today. We were hoping to get some cover, that didn’t work out, but she did get a clear run,” Sargent said.
Tommy Berry had been aboard Four Moves Ahead in both of her trial wins and he was happy to sit three wide and keep her in a good rhythm. When he asked her to let down in the run home she streaked away to score by 2.8l.
Four Moves Ahead and Tommy Berry
Ruby Kisses (Flying Artie) showed improvement on her previous effort to finish runner-up and Morioka (Maurice {Jpn}) produced a sound debut effort for third.
Sargent said Four Moves Ahead was blessed with abundant talent and complimented by an ideal demeanour.
“She’s got a good turn of foot, but her best attribute is her attitude. She’s a laid-back filly and just eats and sleeps and is probably the perfect racehorse.
“She’s a laid-back filly and just eats and sleeps and is probably the perfect racehorse.” – John Sargent
“I know it was a wet track and the breed likes it, her half-sister does as well, but on top of the ground she won’t be worried.”
Sargent will give Four Moves Ahead time to get over first-up exertion and already has a plan in place to give the filly her first opportunity at black type.
“I hold her in high regard and having had a couple of champion 2-year-olds in New Zealand, she is going the right way. We’ll give her a few easy weeks and take her to the G2 Light Fingers S. in about a month’s time,” he said.
“We’ll give her a few easy weeks and take her to the G2 Light Fingers S. in about a month’s time.” – John Sargent
Four Moves Ahead was originally offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Bhima Thoroughbreds. She failed to meet her $300,000 reserve and that may prove to be a blessing in disguise for connections.
She is a daughter of Doulmera (USA) (Mr Greeley {USA}), a €180,000 (AU$345,000) Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale purchase, who has a Pierro yearling and was served last year by Snitzel.
Four Moves Ahead as a yearling
Doulmera is from an outstanding French-performed family and is a half-sister to the G1 Longchamp Prix de l’Opera winner Dalkala (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) and their dam Daltaya (Fr) (Anabaa {USA}) won the G3 Prix de la Grotte.
The second dam Daltaiyma (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}) is a sister to the six-time Group 1 winner and sire Daylami (Ire), a half-brother is the four-time top-flight winner and successful sire Dalakhani (Ire) and to G3 Longchamp Prix du Palais-Royal winner and sire Dalghar (Fr).
