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 Cranbourne, we look at a filly that’s a half-sister to the Group 3 winner General Beau (Brazen Beau), while at Kembla Grange we give some attention to two horses. The first is a $1.1 million colt for the Aquis operation, and the second is from a sister to the Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock).
Cranbourne, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1000m
Glowlight, 2-year-old filly (Nicconi x Phosphorescence {Lonhro})
This unraced 2-year-old filly comes from the Mathew Ellerton yard at Flemington. She belongs to the Contract Racing group, and her stablemate Brazen Lady (Brazen Beau) is also in the field. Glowlight has been very consistent for her trainer in a number of jump-outs to date, finishing second in two this preparation. She has jockey Damien Thornton from barrier six.
Glowlight is the fifth foal from the Lonhro mare Phosphorescence, who herself was trained by Ellerton and Simon Zahra through a single-start career in 2014. Phosphorescence is a daughter of Nediym’s Glow (General Nediym), who won the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies).
Glowlight is a half-sister to General Beau, who was a winner of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) and Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts and Geldings). As such, there is plenty in the pedigree to recommend this filly.
Kembla Grange, Race 2, 1.35pm AEST, Helensburgh Mdn H., $40,000, 1300m
Schmeichel, 2-year-old colt (Not A Single Doubt x Denmagic {Denman})
This colt was a catchy youngster at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Bred and consigned by Torryburn Stud, he was purchased by Tony Fung Investments and Phoenix Thoroughbreds for $1.1 million before heading into the stable of Kacy Fogden.
Schmeichel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Schmeichel is the first foal from the Denman mare Denmagic, who was placed in the G2 Queensland Guineas and G3 Hawkesbury Guineas, as well as the G1 Myer Classic when third to I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible). She was ultra-consistent, and this is also the family of the Group 2 winner Magic Albert.
This is a debut race for Schmeichel, but he’s been very useful in two trials this preparation. He was third at Randwick on July 8, and second on June 20. He comes into this race with jockey Regan Bayliss from barrier eight.
Kembla Grange, Race 3, 2.10pm AEST, Lilyvale 3YO Mdn H., $40,000, 1200m
Peak Legend, 3-year-old gelding (Dundeel {NZ} x Aspen Summit {Fastnet Rock})
Three-year-old Peak Legend is a late bloomer for the Legend Racing team, but there must be something to this gelding because he has a good pedigree. He’s the second foal from the mare Aspen Summit, who is a full sister to the G1 Thousand Guineas and G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Irish Lights. In turn, Irish Lights is the dam of Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}), who won the G2 Silver Shadow S. and was second in the G1 Golden Rose, among other big races.
Peak Legend as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Peak Legend was consigned to the 2020 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale by Arrowfield Stud and, by Dundeel (NZ), he was knocked down to Bon Ho’s Legend Racing for $270,000.
The gelding is trained by Les Bridge at Randwick and he’s been third and fourth in a pair of trials so far. He has drawn well in barrier four for this race with apprentice rider Chris Williams.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday were a mixed bag. At Randwick-Kensington, Graceful Force (Not A Single Doubt) was unplaced and Mindspace (So You Think {NZ}) was scratched. At Sandown, Proscenium Arch (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) was a winner.
