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 Wyong, we look at an unraced gelding with a page that goes straight to a Singapore Champion, while at Goulburn we pay attention to a close relative of Fastnet Rock. At Pakenham, we share the details of a Waikato Stud-bred filly with a stakes-winning pedigree.
Wyong, Race 3, 2.10pm AEST, Vale Cam McBrien Mdn H., $35,000, 1000m
In Front, 3-year-old gelding (Astern x Senorita De Vega {Lope De Vega {Ire}})
This unraced gelding from the Randwick yard of Jim and Greg Lee trialled extensively last year before he was put out until this preparation. It looks like he’s returned a sharper horse with maturity because he’s had two trials this preparation and, in the latest at Randwick, he was second by a short margin.
Bred by Rothwell Park, In Front was consigned by Seco Thoroughbreds to the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale, where he was passed in with a reserve of $25,000. He comes with an interesting pedigree, being the first foal from the Lope De Vega (Ire) mare Senorita De Vega.
In Front as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Senorita De Vega is from the SF Bloodstock-owned Quaffle (Hurricane Sky), making her a three-quarter sister to the multiple-times Champion in Singapore, Gingerbread Man (Shamardal {USA}). Additionally, she is a full sister to the two-time Queensland stakes winner Snitch (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Goulburn, Race 1, 1.15pm AEST, REC Equine Specialists Mdn, $24,000, 900m
Dona Antonia, 4-year-old mare (Shooting To Win x Calusa {High Chaparral {Ire}})
This late-blooming mare from the Annabel Neasham yard will have her first start in this race. She had a preparation under Chris Waller in early 2021 before transferring to Neasham, and she’s trialled well in her new home. Her latest this preparation was a second at Warwick Farm in Heavy going a fortnight ago.
Dona Antonia is a homebred for her owner-breeder. She is the first foal from the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Calusa, who had an eight-race career for a sole win before heading to the breeding barn.
Shooting To Win | Standing at Darley
There is plenty of punch in this pedigree. Calusa is a daughter of the Danehill (USA) mare Sarasota, who was a full sister to both Champion sire Fastnet Rock and the stakes-placed Cirque Du Soleil.
Pakenham, Race 5, 7.45pm AEST, Tom McKinnon Takes On Sportsbet Fillies and Mares BM64 H., $35,000, 1400m
Miss Jennifer (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Sacred Falls {NZ} x Miss Purrfection {NZ} {One Cool Cat {USA}})
This filly for Cranbourne trainer Enver Jusufovic is a smart package. She’s having just her second start in this race off the back of a winning debut a fortnight ago. In that event, she was a dominant 2.75l winner, and she’ll have jockey Brian Park once again from barrier two.
While Miss Jennifer (NZ) is on-song in the form, she has also one of the more interesting pedigrees in this field. Her dam is a half-sister to the two-time Group winner Cheiron (NZ) (Centaine), while Miss Jennifer herself is a half-sister to the notable Singapore stakes winner Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous) and the Ocean Park (NZ) stakes winner Seaway (NZ), who was second in the G2 Queensland Guineas.
Miss Jennifer (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
A daughter of Sacred Falls (NZ), Miss Jennifer was consigned to the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by Waikato Stud. She sold to the Victoria-based Cape Schanck Stud for NZ$160,000.
Looking Back
On Tuesday, our selections fared reasonably well. At Canterbury, Zougotcha (Zoustar) was a winner while King's Crossing (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) was second at Sandown. At Ipswich, Johnny Dash (I Am Invincible) was unplaced.
