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 kick off our selections with Regimental Music (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) and she will attempt to get off the mark at Muswellbrook, while Speak Now (Star Witness) will look to get off the mark at Sale. Our final pick is Amberina (Lonhro) and she will look to get her head in front at the third time of asking.
Muswellbrook, Race 1, TAB.com.au Mdn Plate, 12.30pm AEST, $25,000, 1500m
Regimental Music (NZ), 4-year-old mare (More Than Ready {USA} x Lilliburlero {Redoute’s Choice})
The Kris Lees-trained Regimental Music finished an encouraging fourth on debut at Tamworth earlier in the month and she will attempt to break her maiden at Muswellbrook.
The daughter of former Vinery Stud shuttler More Than Ready (USA) will break from barrier five with Kody Nestor booked to take the ride.
Regimental Music (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Purchased by her trainer for $350,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Regimental Music is out of Group 3-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Lilliburlero, whose three winners are headed by stakes-placed filly Regimental Band (I Am Invincible).
Lilliburlero herself is out of dual Group 1 winner Regimental Gal (General Nediym) and she is also the dam of her stakes-placed sister Vimy (Redoute's Choice), who in turn produced Group 2 winner Souchez (Lonhro).
Sale, Race 2, Carlton Draught 3YO Mdn Plate, 1.10pm AEST, $37,500, 1500m
Speak Now, 3-year-old gelding (Star Witness x Taylor’s Command {Commands})
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Speak Now will be out to break his maiden on the fifth attempt when he lines up at Sale on Sunday. Having finished second on three of his previous starts, the son of Star Witness will break from barrier three with Teo Nugent set to take the ride.
The gelding’s co-trainers teamed up with Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds to purchase the 3-year-old for $280,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Speak Now as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Speak Now is out of the winning Commands mare Taylor’s Command and she has produced three winners, headed by the gelding’s sister, G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Swift Witness. Further back this is the same family as Group 2-winning duo So Pristine (Zabeel {NZ}) and Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Nowra, Race 2, South Coast Butchers Pantry F&M Mdn H., 1.26pm AEST, $25,000, 1100m
Amberina, 3-year-old filly (Lonhro x Ambereen {Fr} {Exceed And Excel})
Having the third start of her career, the Mark Newnham-trained Amberina will look to get off the mark at Nowra. The 3-year-old filly will line up in barrier seven and Tom Sherry will take the ride.
Amberina as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Purchased by her owners Darby Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) for $180,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the filly is out of unraced Exceed And Excel mare Ambereen (Fr), who was purchased by Seamus Mills for €50,000 (AU$73,000) at the 2017 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.
Ambereen is out Listed winner Alnamara (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and she is also the dam of G3 Prix Messidor scorer Alnadana (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Looking Back
Not much luck with our selections on Saturday, with our first pick Gamesmanship (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) finishing seventh at Newcastle, while Final Overture (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) ran sixth at Moonee Valley. Our final choice, Voriah (Pariah), fared slightly better finishing third in Race 3 at Newcastle.
