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 Tuesday, Bjorn Baker links up with a son of Winning Rupert at Orange, while we have two debutantes to keep an eye out for at Mornington, one a 4-year-old mare for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, and the other a Nicconi filly for Lindsay Park.
Orange, Race 1, 1.50pm AEDT, Orange Vet Hospital Mdn, $24,000, 1000m
Rupertson, 3-year-old gelding (Winning Rupert x Beaver Rocks {Fastnet Rock})
Bjorn Baker prepared Winning Rupert during his short but successful career and has already had success with two of his progeny, including the dual winner Rupertaar. This gelding, Rupertson, was the third most expensive colt by his sire from his first crop when sold for $230,000 by Tyreel Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
His dam, Beaver Rocks (Fastnet Rock), is a half-sister to stakes winner Care To Think (So You Think {NZ}) from the extended family of G1 SA Derby winner Hard To Get (Geiger Counter {USA}). Rupertson won a trial at Kembla Grange last month and wasn't far away in a subsequent trial on a heavy track at Hawkesbury.
Rupertson as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Mornington, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, Catanach's Jewellers Plate, $25,000, 1200m
Yonce (NZ), 4-year-old mare (Proisir x Ziba {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}})
Sourced out of New Zealand on the back of a couple of nice trials for trainer Ross McCarroll last year, Yonce (NZ) debuts in the prominent colours of Ozzie Kheir. Her two jump-outs for her new stable have been promising, including her most recent where she worked home from the rear of the field to finish third at Ararat.
She was initially passed in through Book 2 of the New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale at Karaka, and hails from the same family as recent maiden winner and Looking Ahead selection Tuki Twelve (Pierro). Her grandam is the G2 Emancipation S. winner Faith Hill (Danehill {USA}), who is also the grandam of Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}).
Yonce (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Mornington, Race 4, 3pm AEDT, Musk Creek Farm Plate, $25,000, 1200m
Pannawonica, 3-year-old filly (Nicconi x Wickham {Elusive Quality {USA}})
A sister to G3 Vain S. winner Tony Nicconi as well as three other winners, Pannawonica is a homebred for Peter Devitt and the Gordon family, who also bred, and remain in the ownership of her Widden Stud sire, Nicconi, who leads the Australian Sires' Table this season. Her Grade 1-placed second dam, Quinpool (USA) (Alydar {USA}) is also the grandam of stakes winner Mrs Kipling (Ire) (Exceed And Excel).
Pannawonica, who is trained by Ben and JD Hayes, has been solid in her two recent trials, finishing in the top four in both, but doesn't appear to have a lot of gate speed. She does get the winkers this time for her debut which may sharpen her up.
Nicconi | Standing at Widden Victoria
Looking Back
Our best result from Sunday's races was from Factory Made (The Factor {USA}), who ran third at Pinjarra. Our other two runners finished down the track.
