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 Sunday, we will kick off the day with a well-related James Harron-owned colt in the first at Pakenham before turning our attention to an Ozzie Kheir-owned daughter of Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) in the third event.
We will round out proceedings in the fifth race at Pakenham, with a brother of last year’s Golden Eagle hero.
Sportsbet-Pakenham Synthetic, Race 1, 11.05am AEST, Fulmen Park Mdn Plate, $25,000, 1100m
Eros, 2-year-old colt (Capitalist x Grand Gesture {Starspangledbanner})
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Eros should prove extremely hard to beat after being denied a maiden victory on resumption at Sale by the narrowest of margins.
On debut at Geelong in January he is was beaten 0.1l by subsequent R. Listed Inglis Millennium winner Xtravagant Star (Xtravagant {NZ}) before running 1.6l third behind quality colt Counttheheadlights (I Am Invincible) at Moonee Valley.
Daniel Stackhouse has been booked to ride Eros in his first start on the synthetic and will partner the talented colt from barrier seven.
A $340,000 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase by James Harron Bloodstock from the draft of Northmore Thoroughbreds, Eros is out of the Starspangledbanner mare Grand Gesture, who is a half-sister to the dam of the G1 Diamond S. and R. Listed Karaka 2YO Million winner Cool Aza Beel (NZ).
Eros when sold as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
G2 Maribyrnong Plate heroine Tennessee Morn (Bletchingly), the the third dam of Eros, is responsible for the G1 Darley Classic winner Malaguerra (Magnus) and the Listed-placed dam of G1 Coolmore Classic winner Aloha (Encosta De Lago).
Aloha herself is the dam of the ill-fated, three-time Group 2 winner Libertini (I Am Invincible).
G1 Champagne S. winner Seabrook (Hinchinbrook) also features in the second generation of this pedigree.
Sportsbet-Pakenham Synthetic, Race 3, 12.10pm AEST, Sportsbet Bet With Mates Mdn Plate, $25,000, 1400m
Kween Kanali, 3-year-old filly (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn} x Kali {Ger} {Areion {Ger}})
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Kween Kanali will make her debut after being scratched from Geelong last Friday.
She was most recently third in a Cranbourne jump-out and Billy Egan has been booked to partner the Ozzie Kheir-owned filly from barrier seven.
Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) | Standing at Shadai Stallion Station
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, Kween Kanali was withdrawn from the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
She is a daughter of the G2 German 1000 Guineas-winning, G2 Prix de Sandringham-placed Kali (Ger), who hails from an extended family enriched in European black type.
Sportsbet-Pakenham Synthetic, Race 5, 1.30pm AEST, John Duff & Co Mdn Plate, $25,000, 1400m
Struck Twice (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Shocking x Primadonna Girl {NZ} {Edenworld {Can}})
While the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Struck Twice (NZ) profiles as a 3-year-old and beyond type he will make it to the races as a late-season juvenile.
The OTI Racing-owned gelding has jumped out well enough to suggest a forward showing and will be ridden from barrier two by Beau Mertens.
Shocking | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
A private purchase by OTI Racing, Struck Twice is out NZ$2400 2010 New Zealand Bloodstock Selwyn River Dispersal Sale purchase Primadonna Girl (NZ), making him a brother to G1 Toorak H. and the Golden Eagle hero I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) and a half-brother to the G2 Auckland Guineas-placed Cantstopthefeeling (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
G3 Cambridge Breeders' S. third placegetter Singa Lass (NZ) (Danasinga) features in the second generation of this pedigree while G2 ARC Championship S. winner Reno Belle (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}) is present in the third generation.
Looking Back
Our first selection, Attrition (Churchill {Ire}), finished third on debut at Murray Bridge. Our second selection, Russian Benefits (Russian Revolution), managed to finish sixth in the second race at Flemington while our final selection, Magnaspin (Magnus), finished third in the fifth event at headquarters.
