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 Saturday, we kick off proceedings in the second event at Sportsbet-Ballarat with a progressive Matthew Williams homebred before backing up into the following event with a daughter of Impending on debut.
We will round out the day in the second race at Tatura with a well-related 5-year-old entire making his long-overdue debut.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 2, 12.40pm AEDT, John Jens VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade, $175,000, 1400m
Wangoom, 3-year-old gelding (Manhattan Rain x Banri Maeve {Magic Albert})
Wangoom showed good speed to finish second on debut at Hamilton before breaking his maiden status at this track and trip last start. The 3-year-old gelding presents three weeks between runs but is capable of rising to the occasion under Dean Yendall.
The only knock on Wangoom’s chances is that he has drawn awkwardly in barrier eight of eight, however jumps from seven following the scratching of Mattash (Reward For Effort).
Bred and retained by his trainer Matthew Williams, Wangoom is out of Banri Maeve (Manhattan Rain), who herself hails from the extended family of G1 VRC Oaks runner-up Rose O’ War (Danehill {USA}) and G1 Queensland Oaks runner-up Citirecruit (Citidancer {Ire}).
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 3, 1.10pm AEDT, Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic, $250,000, 1000m
Fly Nice, 2-year-old filly (Impending x Sparkle {More Than Ready {USA}})
Fly Nice (Impending) will step out on debut for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace camp after winning a recent Caulfield jump-out over 800 metres. The 2-year-old filly has drawn barrier one of 12 and will be ridden by the in-from Linda Meech.
A $70,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock via the draft of Newhaven Park, Fly Nice is out of a daughter of G1 Thousand Guineas and G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Gallica (Redoute’s Choice).
Fly Nice as a yearling | Image courtesy Magic Millions
Tatura, Race 2, 2.01pm AEDT, Greater Shepparton Mdn Plate, $25,000, 1100m
Silent Admirer, 5-year-old entire (I Am Invincible x Secret Admirer {Dubawi {Ire}})
The David Noonan-trained Silent Admirer will make his debut at the ripe age of five. He was spelled for 129 weeks after crossing from the Tim Martin camp in 2019 and has since completed three trials. The most recent being a last placed performance at Cranbourne on October 4.
Talented apprentice Logan McNeil has been booked to ride Silent Admirer and will partner the entire from barrier one.
A $560,000 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Tim Martin via the draft of Milburn Creek, Silent Admirer is out of G1 Epsom H. and G1 Flight S. winner Secret Admirer (Dubawi {Ire}), thus making him a half-brother to G3 Ming Dynasty S. winner Danawi (Exceed And Excel).
G1 Metropolitan H. winner Donegal Mist (NZ) and dual Group 2 winner Sir Dex (Dexter {GB}) feature in this pedigree.
Silent Admirer as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Looking Back
Our first selection, Skinny Dip (NZ) (Sacred Falls {USA}) finished third on debut at Terang while our second selection Capital Gamble (Capitalist) broke her maiden status at Ipswich. Our third selection Hurtle (Capitalist) was a late scratching.
