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 that has trialled particularly well, we will aim to give you something to follow.
On Sunday, we kickstart proceedings in the opening event at Ballarat before heading north to Newcastle to watch James McDonald take mount aboard an Aquis-owned debutant.
We will round out the day in the fourth event at Ballarat with a well-credentialled Ben and JD Hayes-trained colt.
Race 1, Ballarat, 12.40pm AEDT, Eureka Concrete Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1000m
Flying Artist (Flying Artie) will take a power of beating here on resumption. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding showed speed on debut when finishing third at Sale in May.
Expect him to press forward from barrier six and prove hard to run down under Dean Yendall at his second career start.
A $50,000 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase, Flying Artist is out of four-time winner, Soosa Rama (Bel Esprit), who herself is a half-sister to the dam of G3 Ottawa S. third placegetter Singularity (Not A Single Doubt).
Flying Artist as a yearling
Race 1, Hawkesbury, 12.55pm AEDT, HRC Motel 2YO Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1000m
Forms Of Fear (Written Tycoon) did enough in a recent Warwick Farm trial to suggest that he’s forward enough to be winning here on debut.
The Aquis-owned and Annabel Neasham-trained colt has drawn barrier one and should be strong through the line under James McDonald.
A $400,000 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase, Forms Of Fear is out of Sia (Fastnet Rock), who herself is out of G2 Riesling S. winner Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
She is a sibling to G3 Chairman’s S. winner Ennis Hill, G1 Golden Slipper S. third placegetter Lake Geneva and R. Listed Inglis Nursery winner Memphis Rock.
Forms Of Fear as a yearling
Race 4, Ballarat, 2.25pm AEDT, Ingenia Lifestyle Parkside Lucas 3YO BM64 H., $35,000, 1400m
Tramontana (Toronado {Ire}) is ready to add a second victory to his resume here fourth-up. The Ben and JD Hayes-trained colt was narrowly denied last start at Flemington over 1420 metres and should again rise to the occasion.
He maps to get a lovely run from barrier two and will be partnered by Jamie Mott.
A NZ$200,000 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sale purchase, Tramontana is out of Subtle Breeze (USA) (Strom Cat {USA}), thus making him a half-brother to G1 Toorak H. and G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. winner Trust In A Gust (Keep The Faith).
Subtle Breeze herself is a half-sister to G1 Irish Derby and G1 The Oaks winner Balanchine (USA) (Strom Bird {Can}).
Tramontana as a yearling
Looking Back
Our first selection, Brereton (Zoustar) was beaten by the narrowest of margins on debut in the opening event at Caulfield.
Our second selection, Akhtar (I Am Invincible) claimed third position in the second event at Randwick while our final selection Backstreet (Street Boss {USA}) failed to fire on debut in Race 3 at Goulburn, finishing seventh.
