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.
Wednesday, we go to Canterbury Park with a colt from a half-sister to a Caulfield Cup winner, while at Sandown we look at a Pinecliff Racing filly with a very strong female line. At Launceston, we look at a full brother to a local, dual-Listed winner.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT, Brazen Beau at Darley H., $50,000, 1100m
Matcha Latte, 2-year-old colt (Maurice {Jpn} x Wayward {Redoute’s Choice})
This colt is having his first start for trainer Mark Newnham, and he’s coming in off the back of a huge trial win at Randwick a fortnight ago. He won that 1050-metre heat by over 5l, albeit on a Good surface. Wednesday’s deluge over Sydney might present a different challenge in this race.
Matcha Latte was a $150,000 yearling at the 2021 Inglis Classic Sale, sold by Arrowfield to Viribright Racing, in whose colours he will compete. The colt is from a Redoute’s Choice half-sister to G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Metropolitan H. winner Tawqeet (USA).
Matcha Latte as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This family is heavily decorated with international stakes winners on the third line through Barger (GB) (Riverman {USA}), who was a full sister to Triptych (USA), and her daughter Narrative (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), who was a Champion stayer in Italy. This family was also prominent in America, England, Ireland, France and Japan.
Sandown, Race 2, 3.40pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Switch H., $50,000, 1000m
Smile And Wave, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Sansa {NZ} {Makfi {GB}})
Smile And Wave is bred and raced by GSA Bloodstock/Pincecliff Racing, who purchased her dam Sansa (NZ) from Widden Stud via Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $300,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. This is a very strong female family.
Sansa is from the Flying Spur mare Rosa’s Spur, who won the G3 Dane Ripper S. and Listed Dark Jewel Classic. As such, Sansa is a half-sister to Members Joy (Hussonet {USA}), who won the Listed Cap D’Antibes S. and was dual-placed in Group 2 company. In turn, Members Joy is the dam of G2 Percy Sykes S. winner Pure Elation (I Am Invincible), who was second to Golden Slipper winner Estijaab (Snitzel) in the G2 Reisling S.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Smile And Wave is unraced for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. She’s in a similarly inexperienced field in this race, and she has drawn barrier five with Damian Lane.
Launceston, Race 1, 5.45pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Bet Ticker 2YO Mdn, $25,000, 1100m
Geegees Hisword, 2-year-old colt (Wordsmith x Himstedt {Danehill Dancer {Ire}})
This chestnut colt is an unraced homebred for his ownership, Paul and Elizabeth Geard of Gee Gee Farm in Broadmarsh, Tasmania. This is the home of the stallion Wordsmith, and Geegees Hisword is from a mare that has already produced a full brother and dual stakes winner in Gee Gees Top Notch (Wordsmith). That horse won the Listed Elwick S. and Listed Tasmanian S.
This family goes right back to the broodmare Rose Of St George (Showdown {GB}), who was a Debutante S. winner herself before getting the Group 2 winner Bold Rancher and his full brother, the Listed winner Red Rancher.
Wordsmith | Standing at Gee Gee Farm
Geegees Hisword is one of several debutants in this field, and he was third in a maiden trial for his trainer Stuart Gandy a fortnight ago. He has drawn barrier 11 with jockey Brandon Louis, and these colours have been very successful in Tasmania for many years.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Tuesday didn't fare so well. Both Crosswinds (Written Tycoon) and Bionic (I Am Invincible) were scratched from their races at Bendigo and Goulburn respectively, while Peacemaker (American Pharoah {USA}) was unplaced at Goulburn.
