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 on 2-year-old watch with in-form juveniles with pedigrees to match to keep a close eye on at Randwick, Flemington and at Morphettville.
Randwick, Race 1, 11.05am AEST, Schweppes H., $130,000, 1400m
War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) looks to have plenty in his favour hereafter two outings and showed pleasing improvement on a debut fifth to finish runner-up at Warwick Farm. He beat all but Dragonstone (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), who has since finished second in Saturday company so the form is strong.
War Eternal (NZ) as a yearling
Bred by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, War Eternal was offered by Cambridge Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and purchased by trainer Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock for NZ$160,000. He is the first foal of the Fastnet Rock mare Aleria, a sister to Group performer Thorondor, who is out of the multiple stakes winner and Group 1 placegetter Impressive Eagle (Rubiton). Aleria is a half-sister to the G1 Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way (More Than Ready {USA}) and the family of dual Group 3 winner Thermal Current (Exceed And Excel) and this season’s G3 Black Opal S. winner Kalashnikov (Capitalist).
Flemington, Race 1, 11.55am AEST, Byerley H., $150,000, 1800m
The Robert Hickmott-trained Aktolgali (Adelaide {Ire}) should relish this distance after coming from well back in the field to finish fourth last time out in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final. He had previously produced a bold run to score at Bendigo and Jack Hill takes the reins again.
Aktolgali as a yearling
Bred by Mockingbird Hill, Aktolgali was offered by Yarran Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and the $10,000 paid by All State Breeding and Racing Farms now looks to be a sharp piece of business. He is a son of La Bahia (Grey Swallow {Ire}), who is a half-sister to the five-time winner and black-type performer Albonetti (NZ) (Ustinov) and the family of the dual Group 1 winner Yosei (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Further back in the pedigree is the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Alamshar (Ire).
Morphettville, Race 5, 2.32pm AEST, Listed Oakland Plate, $107,250, 1400m
Tonneofgrit (Winning Rupert) was bred by SF Bloodstock and was offered by Newgate at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where renowned judges John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes purchased him for $425,000. They train the colt for a syndicate that includes Rupert Legh, Newgate and Glentree Racing.
Tonneofgrit as a yearling
He is a son of the G2 Del Mar San Clemente H. and G3 Arlington Classic winner Istanford (USA) (Istan {USA}) and a strong North American family that includes stakes winners Semaphore Man (USA) (Formal Gold {Can}) and Never Right Joey (USA) (Tapit {USA}). Tonneofgrit was a winner two runs back and then stuck on well for fifth in a competitive Saturday 2-year-old event at Caulfield and the extra 300 metres here should be ideal.
Looking Back
Our day started well with Ostracised (Divine Prophet) a comfortable winner in his first appearance from Kody Nestor’s stable.
At Geelong, Lindsay Park’s Sandy Dancer (Pride Of Dubai) finished runner-up after making the running while our other selection Shirshov (Exosphere) was sixth on debut for trainer James Cummings.
