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 are concentrating our efforts on the Bendigo meeting where we like a sister to an international Group 1 winner, an in-form 2-year-old reverting to age group competition and a mare from the immediate family of Fastnet Rock.
Bendigo, Race 1, 11.40am AEST, Bet365 Protest Promise Plate, $35,000, 1400m
Endlessly (Sebring) was sold by breeder Evergreen Stud Farm at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to international agent Dermot Farrington for $300,000, who was acting on behalf of Gilgai Farm. The filly is a sister to the G1 HKJC Chairman’s Sprint Prize winner Lucky Bubbles with their dam the stakes performer Bubble Below (Hussonet {USA}). She is a half-sister to the dual Listed winner Lunaspur (Flying Spur) and the G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner Moonovermanhattan (Manhattan Rain).
Endlessly as a yearling
The pedigree also features the former Champion South African 2-Year-Old Colt and G1 Turffontein Horse Chestnut S. winner Soqrat (Epaulette). Trained by Team Hawkes, Endlessly showed she had inherited a measure of the family ability when runner-up on debut at Ballarat and, with that experience under her belt, can post the first winning strike of her career.
Bendigo, Race 4, 1.25pm AEST, Smartline Finance H., $35,000, 1600m
A return to age group competition and the step up to a mile should be factors to favour Karolinka (Winning Rupert) capping off a sound start to her career. The 2-year-old has improved with each run and most recently finished a strong second against older opposition at Sandown last month.
Winning Rupert, sire of Karolinka | Standing at Newgate Farm
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Karolinka is a half-sister to a brace of winners and their dam Funlove (Shovhog) won on three occasions and was runner-up in the Listed Silk Stocking S. She hails from the family of the G1 Myer Classic heroine Red Tracer (Dane Shadow), whose brother and sire Shellscrape was successful in the G1 The Galaxy H. Their half-brother Counterattack won the G3 Fred Best Classic and was placed three times at Group 1 level before he retired to stud.
Bendigo, Race 8, 3.50pm AEST, Roll The Dice H., $35,000, 1600m
Alumna (Shooting To Win) has plenty to live up to on pedigree and the mare has made an encouraging start to her career with two wins from four appearances. They have come in succession at Wyong and Geelong and, from a handy gate and with the services of Damien Oliver, she looks poised to complete a hat-trick.
Shooting To Win, sire of Alumna | Standing at Darley
Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Alumna is a half-sister to the Listed Singapore Derby winner Sun Marshal (Sepoy), who as Han Xin won in Australia and was second in the G3 Grand Prix S. Their dam Mysterious Light (Fantastic Light {USA}) is out of a sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and Champion Sire Fastnet Rock and from the family of this season’s G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. winner Lightsaber (Zoustar).
