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.
We have three smart 2-year-olds to focus on for Sunday. The first two line up at the Muswellbrook meeting, one of whom is impeccably bred, being a full brother to the Arrowfield Stud-based Showtime. The other isn't far behind, being out of a full sister to another sire in Coolmore's Acrobat. We then turn our attention to Bendigo, where a beautifully bred 2-year-old filly, another by Snitzel, looks a top prospect in a hot maiden.
Muswellbrook, Race 2, 1.15pm AEST, Hollydene Estate Wines 2YO Mdn H., $25,000, 1000m
Forms Of Fear, 2-year-old colt (Written Tycoon x Sia {Fastnet Rock})
Evidently keen on this son of Written Tycoon at the 2021 Inglis Easter Sale, Aquis Farm went to $400,000 to secure him there and on Sunday he looks to make his second start a winning one.
Trained by Annabel Neasham, Forms Of Fear has had two trials this preparation. Despite making an early start to his career with a fourth-placing last October he then had a break. A second preparation at the beginning of the year yielded just one run in a trial. However, he seems to have put it together this time in, having finished second and first respectively in his latest trials.
Forms Of Fear as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
His dam, Sia, was herself a winner at two, and although Forms Of Fear is her only foal to race so far, she is a full sister to stakes winners Ennis Hill, Lake Geneva and, not least, Coolmore sire Acrobat.
Sia is out of Hips Don't Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), a winner of the G2 STC Reisling S. plus a further two stakes events and over half a million in prizemoney.
Forms Of Fear is set to jump from barrier three under Jackson Searle.
Muswellbrook, Race 3, 1.50pm AEST, Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mdn H., $25,000, 1280m
Snizzi, 2-year-old gelding (Snitzel x Flidais {Timber Country {USA}})
This Paul Messara-trained gelding is very well bred, being out of the Group 3-placed mare Flidais. Her half-sister Rush (Charge Forward) is the winner of no fewer than 12 races, including a single Listed success.
However, her progeny is headed by G1 The Galaxy H. winner Sweet Idea (Snitzel) and the dual Group 2-winning sire Showtime.
Both are full siblings to Snizzi, who was bred by Arrowfield Stud and picked up by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $200,000. With Arrowfield remaining in the ownership group, he will run in their colours.
Snizzi as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Snizzi's second dam is Electronic (NZ) (First Norman {USA}), a dual Group 1 winner and joint top filly on the 1995/96 Australasian 4YO+ Classification - so he really is beautifully bred.
Snizzi will have Aaron Bullock in the saddle and the pair will jump from barrier four.
Bendigo, Race 1, 12.05pm AEST, cluBarham 2YO Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1100m
Lambda, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Capella {NZ} {Rip Van Winkle {Ire}})
Taking her name from the Greek alphabet, Lambda is another by Snitzel. She has had two starts and carries good form into this race, as the latest of those was a third place in the Listed Talindert S. (1100 metres) back in February.
Sticking to the same trip for her latest assignment, she appears to have every chance of notching a debut success. Doing so would provide a first win as a producer for her dam, Capella (NZ), who was herself no slouch, winning a Group 2 and placing fourth in the G1 New Zealand Derby.
Lambda as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Capella is the highest performed progeny of her own dam, Group 3 winner Limerick (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}), and the pedigree stretches back to Group 1 winner Ready To Explode (NZ) (Palace Music {USA}).
Lambda is trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes who were also responsible for her purchase at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $200,000.
She will have Damien Thornton in the saddle and is set to jump from barrier nine.
Looking Back
Things didn't go too well for our selections on Saturday. At Moonee Valley, Keysborough (I Am Invincible) could manage only seventh on debut. Also on debut and finishing in the same position at Kembla Grange was Wellerman (Pierro), and at the same track Hail To The Queen (Kingman {GB}) went only slightly better with a fifth place finish.
