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.
On Saturday, we will kick off the day in the lone juvenile feature at Caulfield with a Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA)-owned filly before turning our attention to a well-bought 2-year-old on debut at Morphettville.
We will round out the day in the G3 Auraria S. with a blue blood Arrowfield-owned filly.
Caulfield, Race 4, 2.15pm AEST, Listed Thoroughbred Club Redoute’s Choice S., $160,000, 1100m
Easterly, 2-year-old filly (Pride Of Dubai x Moosirra {Redoute’s Choice})
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Easterly can figure here on debut after closing off nicely in a recent Cranbourne jump-out.
She draws superbly in barrier five of 11 and will be partnered by Daniel Moor, who returned a winner at Sandown last Wednesday in his first ride back since returning from Hong Kong.
Easterly as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A $200,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) and Leneva Park, Easterly is out of the unraced Moosirra, making her a half-sister to the stakes-winning, G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) placed Muntaseera (I Am Invincible).
Moosirra herself is a sister to the South African Group 1 winner Musir and a half-sister to South African Group winners Merhee and Moofeed.
Moosirra had a filly by I Am Invincible sell to Pendant Equine and MG Price Racing and Breeding for $550,00 at the recently completed Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Morphettville, Race 5, 3.07pm AEST (2.37 pm on local) , Listed Dequetteville S., $107,250, 1050m
Killiako, 2-year-old filly (Maurice {Jpn} x Soft Sand {Dansili {GB})
The Phillip Stokes-trained Killiako steps out on debut after a fishing third in a 600-metre jump-out at Morphettville last Tuesday and the week prior she won a Gawler jump-out over the same trip in style.
Her only official trial to date was at Morphettville on January 24 when victorious over 1000 metres and clocking 1:00.21.
On breeding she will prove most effective when stepping out to a mile and beyond but should be hitting the line with intent here under Kayla Crowther.
Killiako as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A $26,000 2020 Magic Millions December Online Sale purchase by Tommy Stokes, Killiako is the second survived foal out of G1 Myer Classic runner-up Soft Sand, making her a sister to Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock’s $240,000 purchase at the recently completed Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Soft Sand herself is a half-sister to the dam of G3 VRC Red Roses S. placegetter A Very Fine Red (Deep Field). Her grandam is the French Group 1 winner Loving Claim (USA) (Hansel {USA}).
Morphettville, Race 7, 4.27pm AEST (3.57pm local), G3 Auraria S., $127,250, 1800m
Always On My Mind, 3-year-old filly (Deep Impact {Jpn} x Stay With Me {Street Cry {Ire})
While the Ben and JD Hayes-trained Always On My Mind finished second last at Moonee Valley last start in the G2 Fillies Classic she was only beaten 3.7l in a race where few horses ran on.
She draws low here in barrier three of 12 but can prove competitive if the in-form Patrick Moloney can find an out in the straight.
Bred and retained by Arrowfield, Always On My Mind is the first foal out of the G1 Thousand Guineas-winning Stay With Me, making her a half-sister to the Listed Talindert S.-placed Waltz On By (I Am Invincible).
Stay With Me herself is out of the five-time Group 1-winning Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), making her a half-sister to the G1 Spring Champion S.-placed Bucharest (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the four-time stakes-placed Earth Angel (Animal Kingdom {USA}).
The G3 Lord Reims S.-winning, G2 Adelaide Cup-placed Eperdument (Americain {USA}) features in the third generation of this family.
Looking Back
Our first selection, Essonne (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) won on debut at Canberra.
Our final selection, Keep Well (Kermadec {NZ}) finished outside of the top four on debut at Cranbourne.
