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’ll aim to give you something to follow.
On Wednesday, we are on the trail of a trio of 2-year-olds, starting out with a Shalaa (Ire) colt at Warwick Farm, then a Street Boss (USA) filly at Sandown and an Impending gelding at Launceston.
Warwick Farm, Race 1, 2.20pm AEDT, Harry Angel @ Darley Plate, $50,000, 1100m
Shalailed, 2-year-old colt (Shalaa {Ire} x Unassailed {Fastnet Rock})
This is a fascinating 2-year-old contest with a host of well-bred runners as well as impressive triallers engaged. Among them is Shalailed, with the John O'Shea-trained colt having shown his ability at a recent Randwick trial, finishing second under a hold.
He cost $280,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of his breeders at Fairway Thoroughbreds. His dam Unassailed, who was purchased by Cunningham Thoroughbreds last year, is a half-sister to stakes-winning pair High Esteem (Redoute's Choice) and Great Esteem (Redoute's Choice). That is a family which also contains G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Central Park (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}).
Shalailed as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sandown Hillside, Race 1, 3.40pm AEDT, IVE > Print Plate, $50,000, 1000m
Bistro, 2-year-old filly (Street Boss {USA} x Estaminet {Lonhro})
One of a select few Godolphin horses prepared by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Bistro is bred on the same Street Boss (USA)/Lonhro cross that produced dual stakes-winning 2-year-old Arcaded. This filly's dam Estaminet was a speedy filly in her day for Anthony Freedman and this is her first runner. Bistro's grandam Estee (Redoute's Choice) is a stakes-winning daughter of multiple Group 1 winner of Tycoon Lil (NZ) (Last Tycoon {Ire}).
The pedigree aligns for Bistro and on the basis of her recent jump-out she has the ability to match that. She sat off the pace there and finished full of running to end up in second place against older and more experienced horses.
Launceston, Race 4, 7.20pm AEDT, Alfa Bowl Sposored by Ensign Lodge, $30,000, 1100m
Bold Instinct, 2-year-old gelding (Impending x Dream Food {Snitzel})
Young trainer Cameron Thompson shocked a few of the locals when he went to $150,000, the highest-price ever at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, to purchase this Impending gelding earlier this year. But he had a lot of faith in the horse and he gets to put that on the line when he debuts in this feature juvenile race.
He is from the first crop of Impending and his dam, Dream Food, is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter I'll Have A Bit (Smart Missile), and a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Snitz (Snitzel). This is the family of six-time stakes winner Tickle My (Perugino {USA}), who is Bold Instinct's third dam.
He won his first trial at this track last month and then was only narrowly beaten in a hitout at Devonport, with the winner there going on to run an excellent race on debut at Hobart recently.
Bold Instinct as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Looking Back
Looking Ahead followers had a couple of winners on Tuesday, with Wheal Rose (Mawingo {Ger}) and Vermentino (Extreme Choice) both victorious at Hamilton. Our other runner, Tropic Sands (Casino Prince), could only manage 11th.
