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 Saturday, a highly talented 2-year-old colt returns to the races at Randwick for his first start since the Golden Slipper, while a promising half-sibling to a Group 1 winner lines up at Ellerslie, and an impressive debut performer chases a repeat result at Caulfield.
Ellerslie, Race 3, 12.42pm NZT (10.42am AEST), Celebrating Savy Yong Blonk 3YO, NZ$25,000, 1400m
Bred and raced by Gerry Harvey, Capaldi (NZ) (Savabeel) is out of Concert Girl (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), which makes him a half-brother to the G1 Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon).
Savabeel, sire of Capaldi (NZ) | Standing at Waikato Stud
Capaldi has shown promise under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson, collecting a win and a placing from eight starts to date. He came from last for an impressive maiden win at Riccarton on April 24.
That was sandwiched between two defeats – a seventh on April 11 and a fifth on May 15 – but they were both on extremely Heavy tracks. His win came on much better ground, and Ellerslie appears likely to offer reasonable footing on Saturday.
Concert Girl is the dam of five winners from seven foals to race.
Randwick, Race 1, 11.25am AEST, Ironmark H., $125,000, 1100m
This race features Kalashnikov (Capitalist), whose high profile dates back to his $600,000 pricetag when James Harron Bloodstock purchased him at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
From the first crop of Capitalist and out of a half-sister to three stakes winners including the quality Eagle Way (More Than Ready {USA}), Kalashnikov joined the stable of Peter and Paul Snowden and was strongly supported when he began his career in October with a fifth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate and a seventh in the Victory Vein Plate.
Kalashnikov as a yearling
The colt put together impressive back-to-back wins in February and March, winning at Gosford before stepping up to stakes level and striking again in the G3 Black Opal S. at Canberra.
Kalashnikov was unplaced in the G1 Golden Slipper in his only start since then, but he won a trial at Warwick Farm on May 17.
Kalashnikov has been allocated the top weight of 59.5kg, but apprentice jockey Brandon Griffiths will claim three.
Caulfield, Race 1, 11.45am AEST, Happy 50th Leanne Napper H., $125,000, 1200m
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr saddle Sudoko (Rubick) here, whose only previous start was a powerful victory by 2.5l at Ballarat on May 9.
Bought by DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd and Mick Price Racing for $160,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Sudoko is by Rubick out of the unraced Tiergarten (Street Cry {Ire}), whose dam is a winning three-quarter sister to the super-sire Snitzel, with other stakes-winning relatives including Viennese (Redoute’s Choice) and Hinchinbrook.
Sudoko as a yearling
Sudoko will be ridden by Luke Currie and is one of two Price/Kent Jnr runners in the field. Stablemate Set The Sails (More Than Ready {USA}) is a full brother to G3 VRC Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Ready Set Sail (More Than Ready {USA}) and produced a strong finish for second at Geelong on May 24 in his only appearance.
