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.
Wednesday, we pay attention to an experienced debutante at Warwick Farm from the family of Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}), an unraced colt for the Hawkes team at Geelong and a 2-year-old filly at Doomben who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}).
Warwick Farm, Race 2, 2.55pm AEDT, Drinkwise Plate, $50,000, 1200m
Privatisation, 3-year-old filly (Extreme Choice x Decorah {NZ} {Pins})
Three-year-old filly Privatisation (Extreme Choice) is one of five debutants in this race, a handy performer across her four trial appearances to date for the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace team. She has been no worse than third in each appearance, the latest occurring on November 16.
Privatisation is the second foal from the Group 3-winning mare Decorah (NZ) (Pins), who is owned by SF Bloodstock. She was sold at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Kulani Park, fetching $310,000 from Ciaron Maher Racing and Charles McGladdery Bloodstock. This is the family of the turf darling Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}), who clattered through 11 Group 1 victories in his day.
Privatisation has drawn well in this race with barrier two, and she will carry Rachel King with a handy pull in the weights at 55.5kg.
Privatisation as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Geelong, Race 2, 3.40pm AEDT, All Time Plumbing Mdn, $35,000, 1100m
Oughton, 3-year-old colt (More Than Ready {USA} x La Fluorescent {NZ} {General Nediym})
Trained at Flemington by the Hawkes team, this 3-year-old colt was a $900,000 purchase for Spendthrift Farm at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was sold by Lime Country Thoroughbreds on behalf of Makybe.
On the page, Oughton is from a stakes-placed mare who is a half-sister to the Group winners Savvy Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) and that horse’s full brother, Addictive Nature.
This race will be the colt’s very first outing, and he’ll carry jockey Jye McNeil in the Spendthrift silks from barrier eight. Six of the nine-horse field are debutants, so this colt won’t be out of his depth.
Oughton as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sunshine Coast, Race 1, 2.03pm AEDT (1.03pm local), XXXX QTIS 2-Year-Olds’ Class 1 H., $35,000, 1000m
Minks Star, 2-year-old filly (Star Witness x Global Dream {Fastnet Rock})
This juvenile race is particularly interesting from a trials’ perspective, and 2-year-old filly Minks Star will show up with one of the stouter pedigrees in the field. She is a daughter of the Fastnet Rock mare Global Dream, who has already foaled the G3 ATC Breeders’ Plate winner Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}).
Minks Star was bred by Highgrove Stud and sold at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, heading to trainer Chris Anderson and Steve Morley Bloodstock for $200,000.
The filly was a trial runner-up in late October before again running second in her first race on the Gold Coast in early November. She’s done very little wrong to date and has drawn barrier six with jockey Stephanie Thornton.
Minks Star as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Looking Back
The best of Tuesday's selections was Anethole (Exceed And Excel), who was second at Tamworth. Alors Tu Crois (So You Think {NZ}) was fifth at Ararat, while our remaining pick, Sandras (Not A Single Doubt) was scratched from his Tamworth start.
