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, Rapid Racing at Flemington sees us check out a brother to a Group 1 winner on debut for Peter Moody and a sharp filly by I Am Invincible looking for a second win, while at Canterbury, a well-credentialled son of Shalaa (Ire) debuts for Team Snowden.
Flemington, Race 1, 3.30pm AEDT, Tick Homes Plate, $50,000, 1000m
Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) creates a lot of interest here on debut as the full brother to Group 1 winner and now Vinery Stud stallion Exceedance. Purchased by Singapore trainer Stephen Gray for $125,000 through the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he has been kept in Australia and is in the stable of champion trainer Peter Moody.
Oxley Road as a yearling
There has been a degree of patience shown with this colt, especially when you consider that by this time in his career, Exceedance had already won a G1 Coolmore Stud S. Oxley Road was super impressive in a recent Pakenham jump-out, sitting on the pace and powering away to win easily, which suggests that he can be very much at the head of affairs in this race.
Flemington, Race 2, 4pm AEDT, Firstly Home Sprint, $50,000, 1000m
Dana Point (I Am Invincible) is a very speedy filly, who broke her maiden in style at Mornington two starts ago and then faded from on the pace over 1100 metres at this track last time out. The Brent Stanley-trained filly should appreciate the drop back to the 1000 metres here.
Dana Point as a yearling
She was a $350,000 purchase by Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Rosemont Stud. Her dam, Kemizengo (Redoute's Choice), has also produced the winner Regal Toff (Toorak Toff) and is a sister to Group 1 winner Master Of Design and half-sister to star South African galloper Suntagonal (Octagonal {NZ}).
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Iron Jack Plate, $50,000, 1250m
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Revivalist (Shalaa {Ire}) ran smart 2-year-old Readily Availabull (Bull Point) to a close margin in a recent trial and debuts here over the 1250 metres with the very much in-form Tommy Berry in the saddle.
Revivalist as a yearling
He was a $380,000 purchase out of the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is a half-brother to the Group 3-placed Bartley (Written Tycoon), who also raced in the China Horse Club colours. Their dam, Rationality (Flying Spur), is a sister to Group 1 winner Mentality, and a three-quarter sister to 2-year-old stakes winner Gold Force (Flying Spur). That is also the family of Group 2 winner and emerging Darling View Thoroughbreds' stallion I'm All The Talk.
