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.
Thursday at Gosford, we pay attention to a half-brother to Darley shuttler Brazen Beau, and a lightly raced mare for the Kolivos family, plus a 2-year-old filly at Toowoomba with a Doncaster winner on her page.
Gosford Race 5, 3.40pm AEDT, Sidcon Maiden P., $35,000, 1200m
My Turn Astern, 3-year-old gelding (Astern x Sansadee {Snadee {USA}})
This unraced gelding for Annabel Neasham was a last-start second in a trial at Warwick Farm last week, and he’s one of three debutants in this field. He will have a handy pull in the weights with only 54.5kg on account of carrying apprentice Ellen Hennessy, albeit he’s drawn relatively wide (barrier 14).
My Turn Astern as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
My Turn Astern (Astern) was a $150,000 purchase for Gall Bloodstock from the draft of Yarraman Park at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is from the Snadee (USA) mare Sansadee, making him a half-brother to no less than Darley sire Brazen Beau.
Gosford, Race 6, 4.15pm AEDT, George Brand Terrigal BM64, $35,000, 1100m
Twitch, 4-year-old mare (I Am Invincible x Blazing Snitzel)
The Mark Newnham-trained Twitch (I Am Invincible) is lightly raced with just three starts to her name, but she has been super-consistent across those with a win and two seconds.
Twitch as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Last time out was at this track and distance where she was a runner-up to Forzanini (Pride Of Dubai), and her win also came at this track and distance last April.
Twitch is raced by Greg and Donna Kolivos’ Lightning Thoroughbreds, and she was a withdrawal by Newgate Farm from the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Her dam, Blazing Snitzel (Snitzel), is a half-sister to Excuse My French (French Deputy {USA}), who was a winner of the Listed Hobart Guineas and Listed Tasmanian Guineas before a successful career in Malaysia.
Toowoomba, Race 2, 2.55pm AEST, Platinum Roofing QTIS 2YO Mdn., $22,000, 1050m
Alert State, 2-year-old filly (Defcon x Repercussions (Quest For Fame {GB}})
Two-year-old Alert State (Defcon) is one among the Mishani-owned arsenal in this race. Trained by Les Ross at Eagle Farm, this filly has had just one start to date when second at Eagle Farm in October, and she’s been very consistent in two previous trials at Doomben.
Alert State as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Alert State is closely related to Tailleur (Shooting To Win), a winner of the G3 Triscay S. at Randwick. It’s also the family of the G1 Doncaster H. winner and later sire, Over (Dr Grace {NZ}).
This filly was sold by KBL Thoroughbreds at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale where she was picked up by Mishani Enterprises for $85,000.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections did very well on Wednesday. At Warwick Farm, both Man In The Mirror (Not A Single Doubt) and Pizarro (All Too Hard) won their respective races while at Sandown, our pick Shalily (Shalaa {Ire}) was fourth.
