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.
Friday at Goulburn, we start off with a gelding from the family of Triple Crown-winning Burst (Marauding {NZ}), plus a first foal from the dual Group 3 winner Hear The Chant (Nicconi). At Sale, we take a look at the debutant son of the brilliant producer Personal Ensign (Rubiton).
Goulburn, Race 1, 12pm AEST, Goulpro 3YO&Up Mdn, $40,000, 1000m
Master Joe, 4-year-old gelding (Unencumbered x Catastrophe {Tale Of The Cat {USA}})
This gelding took a while to hit the racetrack, but on debut last month at this track he was second by only 0.87l from a wide draw. The Scott Collings-trained horse will have a bit more race experience for this event, and he’s drawn better in barrier four with jockey Nick Heywood again.
Master Joe has a family worth watching. He’s the second foal from the broodmare Catastrophe, who is a half-sister to the three-time Listed winner Hoss Amor (General Nediym). This is the family of Loving Cup (Bluebird {USA}), who was also a three-time stakes winner who, incidentally, was third to the brilliant filly Burst in the 1992 Golden Slipper.
Master Joe as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
As a yearling, Master Joe was consigned to the 2018 Inglis Melbourne VOBIS Gold Sale by Jazcom Thoroughbreds. He was sold to RWH Thoroughbreds for a humble $9000 and he races for the Wilden-Constantin family.
Goulburn, Race 2, 12.35pm AEST, Thekosciuszko.com.au Mdn, $40,000, 1000m
Scream, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Hear The Chant {Nicconi})
This Newgate colt is the first foal from Hear The Chant, a Nicconi mare who was a dual Group 3 winner during her career. Hear The Chant herself is a daughter of Quietzer (More Than Ready {USA}), who was a half-sister to the Group 1-placed Kiwi mare Star Karen (Camelot {GB}).
Scream appeared in the draft of Widden Stud at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was spotted by the China Horse Club/Newgate team. The colt was bought for $350,000.
Scream as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Scream is trained at Randwick by Michael Freedman and he’s had a pair of good trials at Canterbury and Hawkesbury, where he was third and first respectively. Sydney debutants do well on this track as a confidence builder, and the colt has got jockey Tom Sherry from barrier nine.
Sale, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Laser Clinics Traralgon 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1113m
Manhattan Thunder, 2-year-old gelding (Manhattan Rain x Personal Ensign {Rubiton})
There is plenty to recognise in the pedigree of this juvenile gelding. Manhattan Thunder is the 11th and final foal from the Listed winner Personal Ensign, making him a half-brother to the brilliant, triple stakes winner Fontiton (Turffontein) and Group 3 winner Sartorial Splendor (Brazen Beau).
This is an old Blue Gum Farm family, and Manhattan Thunder was consigned by that operation to the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. He was picked up by John Sadler Racing for $150,000.
Manhattan Thunder as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The 2-year-old gelding is trained by Sadler at Pakenham and is unraced. He’s had two preparations to date, and in the latest he has climbed through two trials, finishing second in the last one at Pakenham on June 22. Manhattan Thunder has jockey Jamie Mott for his debut and the pair has drawn barrier 12.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections for Thursday were a mixed bag. At Canterbury, Hell's Fury (Hellbent) was unplaced, while Vientiane (Lonhro) was a winner. At Cranbourne, Aseventy Seven (Iffraaj {GB}) was unplaced.
