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.
Today, we take a closer look at a pair of promising 3-year-olds set to break through at Scone and a well-related 2-year-old at Geelong who looks capable of making an impression on debut.
Scone, Race 3, 2.35pm AEST, Newgate Stallions’ H., $22,000, 900m
The Kris Lees-trained Excelness (Exceed And Excel) looks to have everything in her favour to post the first victory of her fledgling career. She has placed in both of her starts to date and over this distance from a handy gate should be hard to catch. Another plus is the booking of two kilo claiming apprentice Dylan Gibbons.
Excelness as a yearling
Bred by Gooree Park Stud, Excelness was purchased by Australian Bloodstock for $270,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is a half-sister to the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner Romantic Touch (Northern Meteor), whose brother Burning Passion was successful in the G3 Hall Mark S. Their dam Dearness (Snippets) is a half-sister to the six-time Group 1 winner Desert War (Desert King {Ire}) and the G1 Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Scone, Race 4, 3.10pm AEST, Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale H., $22,000, 1100m
Croesus (Panzer Division) has made an encouraging start to his career and has a pedigree to boost confidence in his prospects. Bred by Arrowfield Stud, he was a $25,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for Andrew Williams Bloodstock and that might prove a bargain as he is a half-brother to six winners.
Croesus as a yearling
Their dam Frenchs Forest (French Deputy {USA}) is a half-sister to the former Champion 2 and 3-Year-Old Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), successful in five Group 1 events. The Paul Messara-prepared Croesus came off a trial win on this course to finish second on debut at Muswellbrook and can go one better in the hands of Aaron Bullock.
Geelong, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Thompson Creek Thoroughbreds 2YO, $35,000, 1200m
Star Killer (Snitzel) was bred by Aquis and sold at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale to Paul Willetts for $300,000 and then offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at the same venue as a yearling and purchased for $400,000 by Boomer Bloodstock and trainer Lindsey Smith.
Star Killer as a yearling
A half-brother to a pair of winners, he is a son of the Listed Gibson Carmichael S. winner Euryale (Lonhro) and she is a half-sister to the dam of this season’s R. Listed Inglis Millennium winner Profiteer (Capitalist) and the family of R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic winner and sire Unite And Conquer. To be ridden on debut by John Allen, Star Killer has a handy gate in a wide open affair and with his speedy background looks worth following.
