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 Tuesday, we are focussing all our efforts on the Pakenham meeting when we like the chances of a pair of lightly raced 4-year-olds and a resuming 3-year-old who was an expensive yearling purchase.
Pakenham, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Lifestyle Kaduna Park Mdn, $25,000, 1600m
Age Of Infinity (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) collected a couple of placings in a brief first campaign, but was out of the money at Echuca when he resumed after a break. However, that was the first rain-affected surface he had encountered and is certainly worth another chance, especially over a trip he has previously showed a liking for.
Age Of Infinity (NZ) as a yearling
Trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Age Of Infinity was originally offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by co-breeder Mapperley Stud and purchased by Chris Rutten for NZ$50,000 and then re-offered by Woburn Farm at the Ready to Run Sale and sold for NZ$40,000. He was bought by the H. Mackley Trust, of Victoria, and is a son of Speeding (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), a sister to dual Listed winner Gin Dartre (NZ) and the family of the Group 1 winners Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed {USA}), Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) and Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper).
Pakenham, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Lifestyle Meridian Mdn. Plate, $25,000, 1200m
Prepared at Lindsay Park by Ben and JD Hayes, McLellan (Nicconi) is a half-brother to three multiple winners with their dam McFlurry (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to the black-type winners Snow Alert (Red Ransom {USA}) and Fidelio’s Miracle (USA) (Mountain Cat {USA}). It is a deep pedigree that also features the Group 1 winners and sires Snowland and Myboycharlie (Ire) and the Group 2 mother and daughter winners Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}) and Ghisoni (Lonhro).
Nicconi | Standing at Widden Stud
McLellan has been patiently handled and was put aside after a handy fifth at his second appearance earlier this year. The 4-year-old returned on the synthetic track at Ballarat following a six-month break to finish a solid third and with natural improvement from that outing he promises to be a force to be reckoned with.
Pakenham, Race 3, 2pm AEST, Downsize With Lifestyle Communities Plate, $25,000, 1100m
Awe (Hinchinbrook) was offered by breeder Yarraman Park Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes signed the ticket at $850,000. A half-brother to four-time winner Star Justice (Star Witness), he is a son of Crystal Whip (Lonhro), who is a half-sister to the G3 Heath S. winner and G1 Oakleigh Plate placegetter Crystal Dreamer (Stratum). Also prominent in the pedigree is Crystal Lily (Stratum), who triumphed in the G1 Golden Slipper S.
Awe as a yearling
Team Hawkes gave Awe one start in the autumn and he was far from disgraced when ninth and 4l from the winner Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}) in the G3 Pago Pago S. In third place that day was last Saturday’s G3 Up And Coming S. winner Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) so that’s a more than decent form reference for a race like this and, in the hands of Jye McNeil, Awe looks well-placed to successfully open his 3-year-old season.
Looking Back
We had a 100 per cent winning strike rate at Cranbourne with Footlights (NZ) (Savabeel) successful on debut and Bewitchingly (I Am Invincible) then struck at the second time of asking. Loose Buttons (Zoustar) was saved for another day when scratched from her Narromine engagement.
