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, we like the first-up prospects at Newcastle of a colt who has trialled well ahead of his debut and a filly who is expected to show significant improvement on a resuming third placing. At Mornington, we like a well-related 3-year-old making her debut.
Newcastle, Race 1, 1.50pm AEDT, Newcastle Hospitality 2YO, $35,000, 900m
Harley Street (Exceed And Excel) is from the G1 Golden Slipper-winning stable of Richard and Michael Freedman and has looked forward in recent trial outings. He won the latest of them at Randwick, with G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Artorius (Flying Artie) in second spot, and from an inside gate, barrier three, should be ready for a bold showing.
Exceed And Excel, sire of Harley Street | Standing at Darley
Raced by breeder Fairway Thoroughbreds, Harley Street is out of the four-time Group 3 winner Avenue (Anabaa {USA}) and all four of her foals to race have been successful. She is a sister to the dual Group 1 winner Virage De Fortune and another close relation is Slapstick (Anabaa {USA}), who won an edition of the G3 Keith Nolan Classic.
Newcastle, Race 2, 2.25pm AEDT, Rarity Wholesale H., $35,000, 1200m
The Mark Newnham-trained Invincible Fire (I Am Invincible) didn’t produce a lot in her initial preparation but showed the benefit of a spell on her return. Following a trial success, the filly was well-supported at Goulburn in her return and ran accordingly with a late run securing her third money and she should derive plenty of benefit from the outing.
Invincible Fire as a yearling
Bred by Gall Bloodstock, Invincible Fire was offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and purchased by Darby Racing and de Burgh Equine for $180,000. A half-sister to a quartet of multiple winners, she is out of the unraced Octagonal (NZ) mare Impressions, a sister to the three-time Group 2 winner Hosannah and she produced the G2 Magic Night S. winner Altar (Commands). The pedigree also features the dual Group 2 winner Deprive (Denman).
Mornington, Race 2, 2pm AEDT, Mornington Peninsula News Group Plate, $35,000, 1200m
De Be Eleven (Zoustar) is a half-sister to the Listed Mitchell McKenzie S. winner Minnesota Shark (Lonhro), whose sibling Black Vanquish was successful in the Listed Redoute’s Choice S. They are out of the former smart race mare Ponton Flyer (Flying Spur), who won the G2 Kewney S., the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) and was three times runner-up at Group 1 level.
Zoustar, sire of De Be Eleven | Standing at Widden Stud
She is a half-sister to multiple winner and Group placegetter Peta’s Potion (Noalcoholic {Fr}) and the family of the G3 Tramway H. winner Bank Robber (Dash For Cash). Trained by Michael Moroney for breeder Barree Pastoral, De Be Eleven has drawn perfectly in gate three and a strong performance is anticipated from the filly who will be ridden by Jake Noonan.
