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, a filly from a Group 1-winning family debuts for Team Snowden at Gosford, where we also have a half-brother to a multiple stakes-winning colt looking for a maiden win. At Werribee, a half-brother to a Group 1 victor as well as a recent Sydney winner steps out for Archie Alexander.
Gosford, Race 1, 1.15pm AEDT, Sneddon Bros Maintenance Mdn, $35,000, 1100m
Poignant (Exceed And Excel), a homebred for John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds, makes her debut for Peter and Paul Snowden after a strong recent trial win at Hawkesbury. She missed the start there, before surging to sit outside the leader and then forging clear in the straight. The second horse, Hibiscus (Pierro), has been a winner since.
Exceed And Excel, sire of Poignant | Standing at Darley
She is a half-sister to the metro-winning gelding, Edison (Fastnet Rock), out of the Street Cry (Ire) mare A Million Tears, who is a daughter of Group 1 winner Unearthly (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and half-sister to Group 1 winner Invest (Dehere {USA}).
Gosford, Race 2, 1.50pm AEDT, The Entrance Leagues Club Mdn, $35,000, 1100m
Green Kudos (Pierro) hasn't quite hit the ground running in his career the same way his half-brother Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}) did this season, but looks well-placed to break his maiden here in what will be his fifth start. He placed in all three runs for Matthew Dunn this time in, including a third at Hawkesbury last time out.
Green Kudos as a yearling
His dam, Fimatino (Not A Single Doubt), has produced three winners, but it has been Shaquero who has brought her to prominence with his wins in the G3 Breeders' Plate, G3 Pago Pago S. and R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic this season. Her yearling colt by Hellbent sold for $360,000 to The Racing League at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Green Kudos cost Magus Equine $250,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Spendthrift Australia Park, Race 2, 2pm AEDT, Mt Duneed Estate Super VOBIS 3YO Mdn, 1400m, $23,000
The Archie Alexander-trained Metal Bar (No Nay Never {USA}) makes his debut just a fortnight after half-brother Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock) won narrowly for Chris Waller at Rosehill. Their half-brother Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt) won a G1 Caulfield Guineas, while another sibling, Shiralee (Stratum), was stakes-placed. Their grandam, La Volta (Laranto), won a G1 Australasian Oaks.
Metal Bar as a yearling
Metal Bar holds the honour of being the equal second highest-priced Australian yearling by Coolmore's No Nay Never (USA), having reached a price of $400,000 when knocked down to Phoenix Thoroughbreds at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore. Of his couple of trials and a recent Ballarat jump-out, he looks a horse that might appreciate a bit of distance in time, and it will be interesting to see how he fares here over the 1400 metres.
