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.
We begin on Sunday with a talented 3-year-old who looks close to a maiden win at Cowra, then take in a touch of American blood in action at Yarra Valley. We finish up at the Sunshine Coast, where the highest-priced yearling by Spirit Of Boom will make his debut.
Cowra, Race 3, 1.50pm AEDT, Australian Hotel Mdn H., $24,000, 1200m
Possibly So, 3-year-old gelding (Star Witness x Goldlago {Encosta De Lago})
After showing steady improvement through a series of four trials at Dubbo and Bathurst, the Andrew Ryan-trained Possibly So made his debut over 1100 metres at Bathurst on December 20. Settling in eighth place among a 12-horse field, he made up good ground in the straight to finish third and 0.68l from the winner. The step up to 1200 metres looks likely to suit here.
Possibly So is by Star Witness out of Goldlago, who herself won two races as a 2-year-old. She is the dam of three winners from seven foals to race, headed by Kiwi’s Dream (Sebring), who has made a name for himself in the United States with placings in the G3 San Francisco Mile and the Listed All American S., Wickerr S. and Rolling Green S.
Goldlago is a half-sister to Dubawi Gold (Dubawi {Ire}), whose seven wins include the Listed Christmas H. in Adelaide, and to Singapore stakes winner Forest Gold (Charnwood Forest {Ire}).
Other close relatives include Driefontein (Fastnet Rock), winner of the G1 Robert Sangster S., G3 Sheraco S., G3 BJ McLachlan S., G3 RN Irwin S., Listed Widden S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Yarra Valley, Race 4, 2.30pm AEDT, Top Tote Plus 3YO Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1009m
Meschever, 3-year-old filly (Into Mischief {USA} x Spirited Away {USA} {Awesome Again {Can}})
Flemington trainer Simon Zahra brings some American flavour to this meeting in the form of Meschever, who will be out to improve on a close second-placing in her only previous start.
The 3-year-old filly made her debut at Moonee Valley on December 31, racing in second place throughout the 1000-metre sprint before being edged out by 0.2l at the finish line by Lord Paramount (Frosted {USA}).
Meschever is Australian-bred but by an American sire and American dam. Her sire is the all-conquering Into Mischief (USA), who was Champion Sire in the USA and Canada in both 2019 and 2020. His 105 stakes winners include America’s 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic (USA), along with fellow elite performers such as Gamine (USA), Covfefe (USA), Goldencents (USA) and Life Is Good (USA).
Into Mischief (USA) | Standing at Spendthrift Farm
The dam of Meschever is Spirited Away (USA), who won four races including the Listed Truly Bound H. She is the dam of seven winners from nine foals to race, including G2 Tampa Bay Derby winner Prospective (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) and Listed winner Josie (USA) (Race Day {USA}). She is also the granddam of G1 La Brea S. winner Kalypso (USA) (Brody’s Cause {USA}) and G3 Bashford Manor S. placegetter Herd Immunity (USA) (Union Rags {USA}).
Sunshine Coast, Race 2, 2.35pm AEDT (1.35pm local), Battery Wise Suppliers QTIS 2YO Mdn Plate, $26,000, 1000m
Spiritualised, 2-year-old colt (Spirit Of Boom x Personalised {Snitzel})
Tony Gollan unveils an intriguing first-starter here in the form of Spiritualised, who placed in a trial at Doomben in early December.
The colt is by standout Queensland sire Spirit Of Boom out of Personalised, who is a half-sister to the G1 VRC Oaks heroine Personal (Fastnet Rock). The mare is also a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Selectify (Redoute’s Choice) and Laser Flash (Redoute’s Choice), and a half-sister to G2 Theo Marks S. runner-up Trope (More Than Ready {USA}).
Spiritualised as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Other close relatives include the South African star Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}), multiple Group winner A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), and Group 1 placegetter and sire Time Thief.
Spiritualised was offered by Musk Creek Farm at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Gollan Racing and John Foote Bloodstock bought him for $575,000 – the highest price paid for a Spirit Of Boom yearling.
Looking Back
Warmth (Hinchinbrook) was the headline act among our Saturday selections, scoring an impressive win in the $250,000 Magic Millions Mdn Plate at the Gold Coast. Maximillius (Written Tycoon) finished fifth on debut at Flemington, while Metallicity (Zoustar) was scratched from his Rosehill assignment.
