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, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott look to add another black-type winner to a succesful family at Kembla Grange, while at Cranbourne, Peter Moody debuts a 2-year-old filly and Danny O'Brien looks to repeat the Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) formula with a son of Australia (GB).
Kembla Grange, Race 7, 4.55pm AEDT, G3 Kembla Grange Classic, $200,000, 1600m
Nothinsweetaboutme (So You Think {NZ}) has impressed in her two starts to date for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, winning at Canberra and then Goulburn when sitting up on the pace. This represents a substantial rise in grade, but she will make her own luck up near the head of affairs and will prove hard to get past.
So You Think (NZ), sire of Nothinsweetaboutme | Standing at Coolmore Stud
She is aiming to become the fourth stakes winner from her immediate family with three-quarter brothers Stampede (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Thinkin' Big (High Chaparral {Ire}) having won Group 3 events and full brother Just Thinkin', a Listed winner. All of them have raced in the green and white colours of their breeder, Dodmark Thoroughbreds. Their dam, Nothin' Leica Cat (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) was placed in a G1 Queensland Oaks, and is closely related to Group 2 winner I Am A Ripper (Mukaddamah {USA}) and the one-time boom 2-year-old Murphy's Blu Boy (Blu Tusmani {USA}).
Cranbourne, Race 2, 6.10pm AEDT, New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Fillies Mdn, $35,000, 1000m
Peter Moody has had a great run with his 2-year-olds of late and debuts Antifragile (Starspangledbanner), who worked home nicely in a recent Pakenham jump-out after being a little slowly away.
Antifragile as a yearling
She was a $210,000 purchase from Gilgai Farm at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Those with an eye for detail will remember Moody paid exactly the same price for a Gilgai-bred filly at the same Sale in 2008, albeit through the Swettenham Stud draft on that occasion. Antifragile is unlikely to end up with the same race record as Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) but she has the pedigree to suggest she can perform well, being out of Group 2 winner Hera (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) from an extended family that includes Group 1 winners Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {Ire}), Polanski (Rakti {GB}) and Dandy Andy (Three Legs {GB}).
Cranbourne, Race 4, 7.20pm AEDT, De Bortoli Wines Mdn, $35,000, 2060m
Goondiwindi (GB) (Australia {GB}) was not far away at his recent debut at Pakenham, working home well to finish second over 1600 metres. On that performance, and his breeding, the Danny O'Brien-trained import should have no trouble with the extra trip here. It is notable that he is a grey, given his name and the association between the Queensland town of Goondiwindi and its most famous equine export, Gunsynd (Sunset Hue), who was of course is also grey.
Australia (GB), sire of Goondiwindi (GB) | Standing at Coolmore Ireland
O'Brien combined with UK-based agent Jeremy Brummitt to pay 100,000 gns (AU$189,000) for Goondiwindi at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from the draft of Kirtlington Stud. His dam, White Wedding (Ire) (Green Desert {USA}), has produced three other winners and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill {USA}) from the extended family of Group 1 star Postponed (Ire).
