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 expecting a juvenile debut winner to strike again at Rosehill while at Caulfield we fancy the chances of a well-related colt who was a first-up placegetter and the prospects of a lightly tried staying prospect.
Rosehill, Race 1, 11.15am AEST, Elite Sand & Soil H., $130,000, 1200m
Silent Impact (Maurice {Jpn}) had trialled well before he made his first appearance at the races and the youngster impressed at Goulburn where he led all the way and was untested to see it through to score with ease. He has drawn the ideal barrier in gate two to roll forward and in the hands of Tim Clark looks a tough nut to crack.
Silent Impact as a yearling
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Silent Impact was sold by breeder Arrowfield Stud to Dodmark Thoroughbreds for $150,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is a half-brother to the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup winner and two-time Group 1 placegetter Reloaded (Snitzel) with their dam the dual top-flight winner Hollow Bullet (Tayasu Tsuyoshi {Jpn}). She is a half-sister to the black-type winners Last Bullet (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Red Hot Mama (General Nediym).
Caulfield, Race 3, 1.15pm AEST, Neds VOBIS Gold Ingot, $150,000, 1400m
Regulus (Starcraft {NZ}) was bred by B2B Thoroughbreds and purchased out of its Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale consignment by trainer Danny O’Brien for $320,000. He is a son of the G3 RN Irwin S. winner Leone Chiara (Lion Hunter), who has been an outstanding success at stud.
Regulus as a yearling
She is the dam of the dual Group 1 winner and sire Star Witness, the three-time Group 3 winner and sire Nostradamus and the Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush H. winner Embracer (Sebring). Leone Chiara is a sister to Chinchilla Rose, twice successful at Group 3 level and from the family of the G3 Kembla Grange Classic winner and G1 Tatt’s Tiara runner-up Pohutukawa (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}). Regulus made ground in eye-catching fashion to finish a debut third at Flemington earlier this month and the step up to 1400 metres here looks ideal for the colt.
Caulfield, Race 6, 3.05pm AEST, Ciaron Maher Racing Premiership, $135,000, 2412m
Race sponsor Ciaron Maher, who operates in training partnership with David Eustace, looks to have an outstanding chance to win his own race with the promising staying prospect Murrumbidgee River (Fiorente {Ire}). He was a debut winner at Ballarat before he came from last to finish third over 1800 metres at Sandown and he should relish this trip.
Murrumbidgee River as a yearling
Murrumbidgee River was bred by Sun Kingdom and was a $320,000 purchase for Maher and John Foote Bloodstock at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale where he was offered by Sun Stud. His dam Gorgonzola (Hussonet {USA}) was successful on two occasions and is a half-sister to the G3 George Moore S. winner Startsmeup (Danzero). There is also an international flavour to the pedigree with the second dam Genevien (Ity) (Astrolabio {GB}) a multiple Group 3 winner in her homeland.
Looking back
Our Tamworth fancy Phule (Shalaa {Ire}) did us proud with a winning debut for trainer Kris Lees and apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons. The filly tracked the leader on the fence before working into the clear and rounded off strongly in the run home for a perfect start to her career.
At Mildura, the Paul Preusker-prepared Paramedic (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) ran second behind stablemate Hangyourhat (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) while at Ipswich, Miss Barty (Dawn Approach {Ire}) finished 2l off the winner in fifth spot.
