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 begin our day on Sunday at Bathurst where Loud (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will look to get off the mark, while Extessive (Exceed And Excel), will be out to get off the mark at Port Macquarie.
Bathurst, Race 3, 2.25pm AEST, MBA Wealth Solutions “The Barb” Ida Triall Cup F&M Showcase Mdn H., $30,000, 1200m
Loud (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Ocean Park {NZ} x Music {NZ} {Pins})
Having finished seventh on debut, the Bjorn Baker-trained Loud will look to make it second time lucky when she lines up in Race 3 at Bathurst on Sunday. The 3-year-old filly will jump from barrier two with Mitchell Bell booked to take the ride.
Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, where her sire Ocean Park (NZ) resides, Loud is out of Pins mare Music (NZ), who has so far produced two winners.
Ocean Park (NZ) | Standing at Waikato Stud
Further back the filly hails from the same family as dual Group 2 winner Society Bay (NZ) (Zephyr Bay), the dam of Group 2 winner Society Beau (NZ) (Bigstone {Ire}) and Sandblaster (NZ) (Sandtrap {USA}). This is also the same pedigree as Group 1-winning duo Irish Fling (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Tyzone (Written Tycoon).
Port Macquarie, Race 4, 3.11pm AEST, MMEM Group F&M Mdn H., $27,000, 1106m
Extessive, 3-year-old filly (Exceed And Excel x Tiger Tess {Hold That Tiger {USA}})
The Kris Lees-trained Extessive finished fifth on debut and she will attempt to shed her maiden status at the second time of asking when she lines up at Port Macquarie on Sunday.
Extessive was bought by her owners Australian Bloodstock for $100,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year and she is a daughter of Tiger Tess, making her a three-quarter sister to G3 Typhoon Tracy winner Brugal Reward (Reward For Effort).
Extessive as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Tiger Tess herself is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning Champion Apache Cat (Lion Cavern {USA}).
The daughter of Exceed And Excel will break from barrier 13 with Andrew Gibbons set to take the ride.
Looking Back
Our first selection, The Only One (NZ) (Savabeel), finished unplaced on debut at Ruakaka, while well-bred filly Orzala (Snitzel) broke through for her first victory at Newcastle and the final pick, Royal Pharoah (American Pharoah {USA}), was scratched before the race.
