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 Sunday, we kick off proceedings with a stakes-related daughter of Star Witness in the opening event at Warracknabeal before moving onto a lightly raced filly on the Sunshine Coast. We then turn our attention to an unexposed filly from the Kris Lees yard taking on a field of various seasoned maidens at Scone.
Warracknabeal, Race 1, 12.55 pm AEST, Echuca CIH Sales & Services 2YO Mdn Plate, $23,000, 1200m
Sally Sunshine (Star Witness) wasn’t far away when finishing second in a recent Pakenham jump-out. She is another who looks forward enough to figure on debut based on her soft draw, barrier three.
Sally Sunshine as a yearling
A $100,000 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase by Moody Racing, Sally Sunshine is out of G3 Matron S. fourth placegetter Azwa (Haafd {GB}), thus making her a half-sister to the stakes-performed gallopers Ataab (Flying Spur), Fareeq (Nadeem) and Firdoas (Bernardini {USA}). Azwa herself is a half-sister to South African Group 2 winner Mujaarib (Nadeem).
Sunshine Coast, Race 1, 1 pm AEST, Land Transport QTIS 3YO Fillies' Mdn H., $22,00, 1200m
Spirit Of Romance (Spirit Of Boom) presents first-up for her second career start here. The David Vandyke-trained filly finished fourth on debut last December and will be better for the experience. She draws awkwardly in barrier five of five and is to be ridden by Ryan Maloney.
Spirit Of Romance as a yearling
A $30,000 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase by Vandyke Racing, Spirit Of Romance is out 1200-metre winner Romantic Note (Victory Note {USA}), who herself is out of French Listed winner Quelle Romance (Fr) (Romantic Times {USA}).
Scone, Race 3, 1.15 pm AEST, Newgate Mdn H., $24,000, 1300m
Grecian Lass (Fastnet Rock) is forward enough to make her presence felt on debut. The well-bred juvenile has shown ability in her four trials to date but will need plenty of luck having drawn barrier 17 but jumping from 15.
Grecian Lass as a yearling
A $200,000 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Lees Racing, Grecian Lass is out of G3 Caulfield Classic winner and G1 Schweppes Oaks fourth placegetter Sacred Eye (High Chaparral {Ire}), who herself is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner and G1 Golden Slipper S. third placegetter Tulip (Pierro).
Looking Back
Saturday got off to a flyer with the Bjorn Baker-trained War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) taking out the opening event at Randwick.
However, we were brought back down to earth when promising juveniles Atktogali (Adelaide {Ire}) and Tonneofgrit (Winning Rupert) could only manage second placings in their respective events.
