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.
Today, at Ladbrokes Park we are in the corner of a well-related 3-year-old on debut, a lightly raced juvenile with a speedy pedigree and an expensive filly poised to bounce back to top form.
Ladbrokes Park, Race 1, 2.30pm AEDT, Ladbroke It Plate, $50,000, 1200m
Foturi (Star Witness) hasn’t been to any official trials ahead of his first appearance, but he boasts a pedigree with an abundance of pace and the first-up strike rate of trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes is to be respected. The gelding has also drawn ideally in barrier two and the 3-year-old will have the services of Jye McNeil.
Foturi as a yearling
Bred by Widden Stud, Foturi was sold by the Hunter Valley farm at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $210,000 with Hawkes Racing signing the ticket. He is a brother to the G2 Johannesburg Spring Fillies & Mares’ Challenge S. winner Mella Maria (Star Witness) and their dam Sayahailmary (Keep The Faith) was a speedy performer who won twice and finished runner-up in the G2 Angus Armanasco S. It’s also the family of the Listed Wayne Wilson Plate winner Vinland (Sebring) and the R. Listed Inglis 2YO Premier winner Valliano (Equiano {Fr}).
Ladbrokes Park, Race 2, 3.05pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Easy Form H., $50,000, 1300m
River Cat (Bobby’s Kitten {USA}) produced a sound debut performance at Cranbourne where she settled close to the pace and boxed on gamely in the run home for third. With the benefit of race experience and an inside gate, two, she is expected to go close under jockey Damian Lane.
Bobby's Kitten (USA), sire of River Cat | Standing at Lanwades Stud
The filly is a half-sister to the Listed Redoute’s Choice S. winner River Night (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and their dam is River Pearl (Helmet), a half-sister to the G3 Irwin S. winner Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel). Under the second dam is the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove (Hurricane Sky), mother of the G2 Silver Slipper S. winner and Vinery Stud sire Headwater.
Ladbrokes Park, Race 5, 4.50pm AEDT, The Big Screen Company H., $50,000, 1300m
Charm School (Redoute’s Choice) was an expensive youngster and was purchased out of Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft for $480,000 by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock. She is a daughter of the winner and stakes performer Mount Zero (Northern Meteor) and her dam Beauty School (Royal Academy {USA}) won the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies). It is the family of the recently retired G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Farnan and the G3 Vanity S. winner Tallow (Street Cry {Ire}).
Charm School as a yearling
Prepared by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Charm School was an impressive debut winner as a 2-year-old and then spelled after a below par effort in the G3 Breeders’ S. at Morphettville. She wasn’t far away when sixth on resumption at Sandown and with the benefit of that outing the filly can show her true colours here.
