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 Tuesday, we will begin the day at Tamworth with a Arrowfield homebred from the family of Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) before heading to Hawkesbury to watch a daughter of Deep Field debut.
We will round out the day in the fourth event at Tamworth with a Bruce Mackenize-owned gelding that boasts an impressive South American pedigree.
Tamworth, Race 2, 12.50pm AEST, Cool Blue Ice Mdn Plate, $24,000, 1600m
Seahaven, 3-year-old gelding (Mikki Isle {Jpn})x Dame Pattie {Snitzel})
The Paul Messara-trained Seahaven looks well-placed here after finishing fifth at Scone over 1300 metres on debut.
He will be improved for the run and should relish stepping out over a mile. Aaron Bullock has been booked to ride Seahavan and will be required to overcome barrier 13 of 16.
Seahaven as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
An Arrowfield homebred, Seahaven is the first foal out of the unraced Dame Pattie, who is out of the four-time Group 1-winning Alinghi. Dame Pattie’s second foal by Shalaa (Ire) sold for $725,000 at last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Alinghi herself is responsible for the dam of the G3 Vanity S.-placed Extra Olives (Redoute’s Choice) and the G3 Kindergarten S.-placed Regatta Rebel (Redoute’s Choice).
The G1 Blue Diamond S.-placed Benetau features in the second generation of this pedigree.
Hawkesbury, Race 4, 1.55pm AEST, Lake Illawarra Prov & Ctry Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1000m
Champ Profond, 2-year-old filly (Deep Field x Sara’s Choice {Choisir})
The Blake Ryan-trained Champ Profond showed enough in a recent trial at Rosehill to suggest that she is forward enough to figure on debut.
Jason Collett has been booked to partner Champ Profond despite Chad Schofield and William Pike taking mount in her trials.
Champ Profond maps to get a lovely run in transit from barrier four of 11 bearing she steps evenly from the machine.
Champ Profond as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A $100,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Blake Ryan Racing, Champ Profond is out of the Listed-winning, G1 Flight S. fourth placegetter Sara’s Choice, who herself hails from the family of the G2 Reisling Slipper Trial S.-placed Fetes Galantes (Brave Warrior).
The G1 Doomben Cup-placed Palmyra Bay (Semipalatinsk {USA}) and the South African Group 1 winner Happy Archer (Dubawi {Ire}) feature in the third generation of this family.
Tamworth, Race 4, 2.10pm AEST, Hygain Mdn Plate, $24,000, 1000m
Oakfield Duke, 3-year-old gelding (Into Mischief {USA} x Leading The Way {Arg} {Brancusi {USA}})
The Kristen Buchanan-trained Oakfield Duke is forward enough to figure prominently on debut after winning his two most recent trials by 4.3l and 0.2l respectively.
The Bruce Mackenzie-owned gelding has drawn wide in barrier 11 but has shown enough early speed in his trials to suggest that he can cross and prove hard to run down.
Oakfield Duke as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
A $120,000 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Bruce Mackenzie, Oakfield Duke is out of the Argentinian Group 1 winner Leading The Way (Arg), making him a half-brother to the Argentinian Group 3 winner Lead To Win (Arg) (Orpen {USA}).
Leading The Way herself is a half-sister to the three-time Argentinian Group 1-winning Life Of Victory (Arg) (Incurable Optimist {USA}).
A host of South American stakes performers feature throughout this pedigree.
Looking Back
On Sunday, our first selection Victims (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) finished second on debut at Ballarat while our next selection, Keyless Go (More Than Ready {USA}) could only manage fifth on debut in the fourth event at Ballarat.
We will have to wait for another day to watch our final selection, Oakfield King (Fastnet Rock) after Wellington was abandoned following Race 1.
