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.
Sunday’s racing action features a couple of high-priced yearling purchases in maiden races at Ballarat and the Sunshine Coast, while a talented 2-year-old could build on an encouraging debut placing when he lines up for the second start of his career at Ballarat.
Ballarat, Race 1, 12.10pm AEST, Cressbells Two-Years-Old Maiden Plate, $35,000, 1100m
Promising gelding Ostracised (Divine Prophet) is a half-brother to four winners, including the stakes placegetters La Tigeressa (Street Cry {Ire}) and Medieval Miss (Camelot {GB}).
Divine Prophet sire of Ostracised | Standing at Aquis
Originally a $90,000 purchase at the 2019 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale by Lyndhurst Farm, he was later picked up for $375,000 by Ardross Bloodstock Pty Ltd in the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes for owners Orbis Bloodstock, Ostracised made his debut over 1200 metres at Geelong on April 20 and ran a highly creditable race for third – beaten by only 1.45l.
Natural improvement from that first raceday appearance could take him close in this race, where all but two of his opponents are first-starters.
Ballarat, Race 2, 12.45pm AEST, Pipe Pro Directional Drilling Maiden Plate, $35,000, 1100m,
High-priced yearling purchase Strategy (I Am Invincible) has improved with every start in his short career to date and seems to be closing in on a first win.
Strategy as a yearling
A son of quality Snitzel mare Oakleigh Girl, he was bought for $1.7 million from Yarraman Park’s draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Kennewell Racing, Group One Bloodstock, Aquis and Ozzie Kheir.
Fourth and fifth in the first two starts of his career in the spring, Strategy has made a much more promising return in recent weeks with a pair of close runner-up finishes at Cranbourne and Werribee in April. The Lloyd Kennewell-trained youngster won’t have to improve much to clear maiden grade.
Sunshine Coast, Race 2, 1.25pm AEST, HOT 91 Ladies Oaks Day 28th May QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate, $25,000, 1000m
This juvenile sprint features another high-priced yearling purchase, Lady Love Bug (I Am Invincible), who was bought for $750,000 by Alan and Jennifer Acton from Yarraman Park’s draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Lady Love Bug as a yearling
Lady Love Bug is out of the winning Sepoy mare Lusitania, who is a half-sister to Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) – Australia’s champion 3-year-old filly in 2004/05 and the winner of 11 races including the G1 Nemwarket H., Blue Diamond S., Thousand Guineas and Swettenham Stud S. Another half-sister, Slice Of Paradise (Encosta De Lago), is the dam of Group winner and sire Beneteau.
Trained by Tony Gollan, Lady Love Bug did things wrong when unplaced on debut at Eagle Farm last month but has blinkers applied for her second start on Sunday.
