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 Thursday, it is all about the pedigrees, with two siblings to Group 1 winners on debut at Kyneton and Hawkesbury, while an impressive recent Tatura trial winner from a fast family debuts for Lindsay Park.
Kyneton, Race 2, 2pm AEDT, bets365 Odds Drift Protector Mdn, $35,000, 1469m
Gmork (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Tivaci x Ruqqaya (NZ) {{Van Nistelrooy {USA}})
The very well-related Gmork (NZ) debuts for Danny O'Brien and as a NZ$500,000 yearling, there will be a bit of an expectation on his performance. Bruce Perry paid that price for him through the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka on behalf of a syndicate that also involves Lib Petagna, Jamieson Park, Rosemont Stud, Jomara Bloodstock and the Chittick family.
Gmork (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
He is a half-brother to Group 1 winner and Yulong Stud stallion Grunt (NZ) as well as the G2 Matriarch S. winner Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) and the stakes-placed Addison (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}). Their dam, Ruqqaya (NZ), is a half-sister to Ocean Park (NZ).
He tailed the field in a recent Flemington jump-out, but wasn't that far away and that was only at 800 metres, which is well short of the distance where he debuts here
Kyneton, Race 4, 3pm AEDT, bet365 Racing Refunds Mdn, $35,000, 1212m
My Artemis, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Dancing Heather {Danzero})
Ben and JD Hayes present the well-related 3-year-old filly My Artemis for her debut. She came off an impressive win in a recent Flemington jump-out and backed that up with an authoritative trial win at Tatura last week.
My Artemis as a yearling
Bred and owned by Seymour Bloodstock, she is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Heatherly (Lonhro), who was also placed in a G1 Moir S. and a G1 Oakleigh Plate. Their dam, Dancing Heather (Danzero) has produced four winners in all and is an unraced half-sister to G1 Stradbroke H., winner Linton (Galileo {Ire}).
Hawkesbury, Race 1, 1:50pm AEDT, Bottlemart 4YO & Up Mdn, $35,000, 1100m
Nasturtium, 4-year-old horse (Snitzel x Miss Jakeo {Unbridled's Song {USA}})
The training partnership of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou have been in great winning form of late and present this well-bred 4-year-old, who finally gets to the track, having been scratched last week.
His only public appearance was a Rosehill trial in July when he ran third. He finished off very stylishly there and has had strong early market support ahead of this race.
He cost Ryan and David Raphael $500,000 as a yearling through the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. He remains in the colours of his breeder Gerry Harvey and his dam, Miss Jakeo, has produced Group 1 winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym) as well as Group 3-winning trio Miss Judgement (Strategic), Fifth Avenue Lady (Encosta De Lago) and Aussies Love Sport (Redoute's Choice).
Looking Back
It was a case of so close, yet so far, for our Looking Ahead sections, with Miss Hellfire (Hellbent) running second in the feature race at Wyong, while Snitzonfire (Snitzel) finished third at the same track and Peribaldo (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) fourth.
