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 at Taree with a talented 3-year-old who is a half-brother to a Blue Diamond winner and closely related to the current Golden Slipper favourite.
We then turn our attention to Kilmore, where a well-related I Am Invincible filly makes her debut, while a former $1.1 million yearling purchase looks like one to follow later in the program after a recent change of scenery.
Taree, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Bakewell Haulage/Wingham Cellarbrations Colts, Geldings & Entires Class 1 Showcase H., $30,000, 1250m
Jutland, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel {NZ} x Ribe {Danehill {USA}})
The Paul Perry-trained Jutland has won once in four starts so far – a stylish performance over 1300 metres at Newcastle on October 16. In his only start since then, Jutland carried 60.5kg into a close fifth at Muswellbrook. He drops back to 59kg for this.
Jutland was a $210,000 purchase from Arrowfield Stud’s draft at the 2020 Inglis Classic Sale. He is out of Ribe (Danehill {USA}), whose three wins included the G2 Moonee Valley Oaks. She also placed in the G3 Vanity S. and finished fourth in the G1 Arrowfield Stud S. at Australasian Oaks.
Ribe is the dam of eight winners, headed by the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Reaan (Hussonet {USA}).
Ribe’s two-race-winning daughter Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}) is the dam of Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), the super-impressive winner of the G3 Gimcrack S. and current favourite for the 2022 Golden Slipper.
Jutland as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Kilmore, Race 2, 2.10pm AEDT, Next Payments 3YO Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1100m
Game To Love, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Lady Sharapova {Fastnet Rock})
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock, Newton Thoroughbreds and Chesapeake Thoroughbreds, Game To Love will be the centre of attention when she steps out for her debut on Sunday afternoon.
She is by super-sire I Am Invincible out of Lady Sharapova (Fastnet Rock), who was a winner and also placed in the G3 Ming Dynasty H., Listed Talindert S. and Listed Port Adelaide Guineas.
Lady Sharapova is a half-sister to Listed placegetter Papillon (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), while their stakes-placed dam Perfect Persuasion (Encosta De Lago) is a sister to four-time Group 1 winner Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) and to Slice Of Paradise (Encosta De Lago) – the dam of Group winner and sire Beneteau.
Game To Love was a $450,000 purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Game To Love as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Kilmore, Race 5, 4pm AEDT, MC Labour BM70 H., $40,000, 1200m
Pioneer River, 4-year-old gelding (Snitzel x Ocean Of Tears {NZ} {Minardi {USA}})
A half-brother to the multiple stakes winner No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), and closely related to quality performers Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock) and current star Splintex (Snitzel), Pioneer River cost $1.1 million when Sun Bloodstock bought him from Sledmere Stud’s draft at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He began his career with Lindsay Park’s David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, for whom he won as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old and placed in the Listed Valley Pearl. He was also a close fifth in the Listed Springtime S. and McKenzie S., and only 3.7l from the winner when 13th in the Listed A.R. Creswick S.
After a placing at Sandown at the beginning of September, Pioneer River was transferred into the stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, for whom he was a close and eye-catching third at Horsham on October 17. A similar performance would see him right in the finish here.
Pioneer River as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Looking Back
Wangoom (Manhattan Rain) finished third in the John Jens VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade at Ballarat, while Fly Nice (Impending) was unplaced in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic. Silent Admirer (I Am Invincible) also finished outside the placings at Tatura.
