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.
For Friday's racing, we kick off with a 3-year-old filly by Pariah at Sportsbet Ballarat Synthetic, before turning our attention to second race at the Victorian track where a colt by So You Think (NZ) has his second start. Our final runner - an Xtravagant (NZ) gelding - is on debut at Canberra.
Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic, Race 2, 12.55pm AEST, Brandt Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1000m
Avoid Me, 3-year-old filly (Pariah x Fly Me {Encosta De Lago})
Having finished seventh on debut back in February, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Avoid Me (Pariah) will attempt to get off the mark at the second time of asking when she lines up here.
Purchased by her trainer and Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $90,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021, the filly will jump from barrier seven with Dean Holland booked to take the ride.
Avoid Me as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Avoid Me is out of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Fly Me and she is a half-sister to Listed winner and Group 1-placed Shamardal (USA) mare Vezalay.
Further back the filly derives from the same family as stakes winner Roulettes (Flying Spur) - the dam of Listed-winning duo Sun City and Parlophone (I Am Invincible).
Sportsbet-Ballarat Synthetic, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, Global Turf Super VOBIS 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1400m
Caldante, 3-year-old colt (So You Think {NZ} x Vanilla Princess {Lonhro}})
This colt was bred by Evergreen Rich and was consigned to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Offered by Evergreen Stud Farm, he was knocked down to McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency P/L (FBAA) for $330,000.
Caldante has already been to the races, placing third over 1200 metres on debut at this track on July 19.
Caldante as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained colt is from a two-time winner, while his second dam is Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) - a multiple Group 1 victress who has produced Group 3 winner Argentia (Frankel {GB}), as well as Group 3 winner and 2014/15 Champion Griffin in Hong Kong Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice). Caldante’s third dam is the three-time Listed winner Stoneyfell Road (Sovereign Red {NZ}).
Damien Thornton takes over from Dean Holland.
Canberra, Race 5, 2.51pm AEST, CKC Joinery & Stone H., $22,000, 1000m
Bringbackthebears, 3-year-old gelding (Xtravagant {NZ} x Sakura Rose {Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}})
This gelding was bred by Redbank North, and they race the 3-year-old in partnership with a host of others.
Xtravagant (NZ), sire of Bringbackthebears | Standing at Newhaven Park
His dam placed twice in a short career, before producing All Sassitude (Delago Deluxe) – a winner of four races and in excess of $100,000 in prizemoney. Bringbackthebears’ second dam, Smytzer’s Rose (Danehill {USA}) has thrown Listed winner Carocapo (Husson {Arg}), while his third dam is the super-producing mare Professionelle (NZ) (Centaine) – the dam of four stakes winners that combined for 11 stakes wins. That quartet is Hoystar (Danzero), King Of Prussia, Prisoner Of Love (Canny Lad) and Sportsman (Supremo {USA}).
Trained by Emma and Lucy Longmire, Bringbackthebears will debut under Jess Taylor, following a Goulburn trial on August 8.
Looking Back
We were around the mark with our runners on Thursday. Quinlan (I Am Invincible) finished third in the opener at Hawkesbury, while Utopian Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) was unplaced in the third race there. And, Duvach (NZ) (Savabeel) ran third in Race 3 at bet365 Echuca.
