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 will aim to give you something to follow.
On Thursday, Kris Lees looks for a maiden win from a half-sister to a Group 1 winner at Newcastle, where Edinburgh Park debuts a well-related Snitzel colt, while at Pakenham, an imported 3-year-old filly makes her debut for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Newcastle, Race 1, 1pm AEDT, Coastline Pools and Spas Mdn, $35,000, 900m
The Kris Less-trained Excelness (Exceed And Excel) showed enough in her recent debut at Port Macquarie to suggest she won't be long breaking through for her maiden success. She was just run down late that day, and will no doubt be improved by the run and the possibility of a slightly better track condition.
Excelness as a yearling
She has the pedigree to be a serious racehorse, being a half-sister to G1 JJ Atkins S. winner Romantic Touch (Northern Meteor) and Group 3 winner Burning Passion (Northern Meteor). Their dam, Dearness (Snippets), is a half-sister to Group 1-winning pair Desert War (Desert King {Ire}) and Laser Hawk (Artie Schiller {USA}). This filly was purchased by Australian Bloodstock for $270,000 at the 2019 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Newcastle, Race 5, 3.35pm AEDT, Avid PM 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1200m
Edinburgh Park has had substantial success breeding and racing horses out of the family of Bjorn Baker's first starter Wolfburn (Snitzel) and it will be hoping he can make an impression in the stud's yellow and red colours here after a couple of good performances at recent trials at Canterbury and Rosehill.
Wolfburn as a yearling
He was passed in short of his $400,000 reserve at last year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and was retained to race. He is a brother to the speedy stakes-performed mare Miss Wonderland and a half-brother to stakes-placed Spencer (Pierro), who was also trained by Baker. Their dam, Alice's Smart (USA) (Smart Strike {USA}) is a half-sister to the dams of stakeswinners Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock) and Glenfiddich (Fastnet Rock).
Pakenham, Race 2, 6.30pm AEDT, Cormack Pluming Mdn, $35,000, 1400m
Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was bred overseas by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, who sold her to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $400,000 at the 2019 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Her dam Thai Noon (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) is a daughter of stakes winner Alsace Lorraine (Ire) (Giant's Causeway {USA}). She is a blood-sister to G1 1000 Guineas winner Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and from the family of another Maher runner in Mask Of Time (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
Steinem (GB) as a yearling
She looked pretty sharp at a recent Cranbourne trial, finishing third in a performance that gave indication that she's a horse worth following on debut, and she looks well-placed over the 1400 metres in this race.
