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.
For this issue, we look ahead to the good racing around the country on Saturday, New Year’s Day. We pay attention to a James Harron colt from the family of a Golden Slipper winner, a Godolphin filly at Flemington from the Dancing Show (USA) (Nijinsky {Can})-line, and a Waterhouse-Bott juvenile at Doomben that fits the stable pattern perfectly.
Randwick Kensington, Race 1, 12.20pm AEDT, Ranvet H., $130,000, 1150m
London, 2-year-old colt (Capitalist x Mystical Tale {Encosta De Lago})
This race, the first juvenile event of the New Year, will be competitive, with a 12-horse field vying for its good purse. Among it, 2-year-old colt London is in with a fighting chance, a well-bred entrant for James Harron.
London was the second-highest selling yearling at the 2021 Inglis Classic Sale, fetching $600,000 from the draft of Davali Thoroughbreds. His dam is a daughter of the brilliant, G1 Golden Slipper-winning filly Polar Success (Success Express {USA}).
London as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This will be the first start for London but he was a Christmas-week trial winner last time out when winning an 890-metre heat at Canterbury. He carried James McDonald that day and he’ll have Regan Bayliss in this.
Flemington, Race 1, 10.35am AEDT, New Year Sprint, $130,000, 1000m
Va Via, 2-year-old filly (Astern x Transfers {Street Cry {Ire}})
Va Via was third on debut for Godolphin three weeks ago in a race that will see her line up again with her stablemate Kin (Impending), who was second that day. Va Via will have Damien Oliver in this New Year’s Day race.
This 2-year-old filly is a smart homebred for the Godolphin stable. Trained at this track by James Cummings, she is the first filly from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Transfers, making her a half-sister to the Listed Canberra Guineas winner Promotions (Exceed And Excel).
Astern | Standing at Darley
This is the Dancing Show (USA) (Nijinsky {Can}) family of the Australian-bred mare Twyla (Danehill {USA}), which has produced the stakes winner Murjana (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) plus the triple stakes-producing broodmare Celebria (Peintre Celebre {USA}).
Doomben, Race 3, 2.13pm AEDT (1.13pm local), Trapeze Artist 1st Yearlings Selling 2022 2YO H., $105,000, 1200m
Celestial Spirit, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Positive Problems {Sebring})
The obvious choice for this race is the Wyong winner Soaring Ambition (Not A Single Doubt), but the 2-year-old filly Celestial Spirit is worth a look.
She is a trial winner this preparation and a winner of her only start at Scone in December, and the Waterhouse-Bott yard has a handy habit of sending these juveniles for good regional wins to get their confidence up before bigger metropolitan targets.
Celestial Spirit as a yearling | | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Celestial Spirit is a daughter of the Group 3-placed mare Positive Problems, which boasts a decorated American family further back. This filly was consigned by Widden Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she sold to Laurel Oak, Waterhouse and Bott for $300,000.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections for Wednesday, December 29, fared well. Twilight Affair (Zoustar) won her race at Kensington while Rejoiced (Redoute's Choice) was unplaced. At Mornington, Place Of Gold (Turffontein) won his race, making it two from three for our selections.
