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 will kickstart proceedings in the opening event at Te Aroha with a Te Akau Racing filly before heading back across the Tasman to Rosehill to watch a daughter of a Group 1-winning sprinter step out on debut.
We will round out the day at Caulfield in the opening event on their Zipping Classic program with an Emirates Park-owned filly.
Te Aroha, Race 1, 10.30am AEDT (12.30pm local), Stallion Service Scheme Mdn, $20,000,1100m
I Choose You, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Choose {Starcraft {NZ}})
Te Akau Racing and Jamie Richards will lift the curtain on a daughter of I Am Invincible, who was acquired by David Ellis and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $500,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The aptly named I Choose You was last seen winning an 800-metre trial on a Dead 6 surface at Matamata in a time of 48.45s after finishing second in her first trial on September 21.
I Choose You as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Rosehill, Race 1, 12.20 AEDT, Elite Sand & Soil H., $130,000, 1100m
Emilia Romagna, 2-year-old filly (Pierro x Griante {Good Journey {USA}})
The Bjorn Baker-trained Emilia Romagna looks forward enough to fire on debut after finish second by 0.5l and 0.2l in two trials to date. She has drawn barrier eight and will be partnered by Jason Collett.
Bred by David Brideoake, Brendan Lindsay and Jo Lindsay and purchase by Spendthrift Australia for $550,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Emilia Romagna is out of G1 The Galaxy H. winner Griante.
G1 WATC Derby winner Grand Journey (Good Journey {USA}) and G1 Greyville Golden Slipper S. runner-up Almashooqa (Bernardini {USA}) feature in this family.
Griante as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Caulfield, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper S., $160,000, 1000m
Ebhaar, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Maroon Bay {Exceed And Excel})
Peter and Paul Snowden are set to unveil Ebhaar here on debut after the well-related juvenile won a Randwick trial impressively on October 29.
She has since won a Flemington jump-out and will be required to break from barrier nine of 11 here.
Bred and retained by Emirates Park, Ebhaar is a half-sister to G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) runner-up Shotmaker (Shooting To Win) .
She is out of Maroon Bay (Exceed And Excel), who is a half-sister to dual Hemisphere Group 1-winning sprinter Merchant Navy and G2 Roman Consul S. winner Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock).
Looking Back
Our first selection Speak Now (Star Witness) finished second on debut at Canberra. Our second selection Pretty Amazing (American Pharoah {USA}) was a scratching whilst our third selection Rights Of Man (Snitzel) was a respectable third.
