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 Friday, we focus on the Cranbourne meeting. The first of our choices is from a high-achieving Argentinian mare, and the other is an Extreme Choice colt for Australian Bloodstock.
Cranbourne, Race 1, 5.40pm AEDT, Peter & Lavella Darose Mdn, $40,000, 1300m
He’s A Legend, 3-year-old gelding (Snitzel x Miss Match {Arg} {Indygo Shiner {USA}})
This gelding is from the interesting mare Miss Match (Arg), who is a dual Group 1 winner of the Santa Margarita Invitational S. at Santa Anita and the Palermo G.P. Seleccion in Argentina. She was also multiple times Group-placed in a career that took her from Argentina to California and Florida. There is plenty of pedigree about this family as Miss Match is a half-sister to the Malibu Moon (USA) Group 1 winner Carina Miss (USA).
He’s A Legend was consigned by Arrowfield Stud to the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He sold for $220,000 to Lofty Thoroughbred Group.
He's A Legend as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The gelding is trained by Julius Sandhu at Cranbourne and he’s unraced, but he’s steadily climbed up through three jump-outs, the latest of which was last week when he finished second. He’s A Legend has drawn barrier one in this debut with jockey Craig Newitt.
Cranbourne, Race 4, 7.15pm AEDT, Electrics 3YO Mdn, $40,000, 1000m
The Extreme Cat, 3-year-old colt (Extreme Choice x Follow That Cat {Tale Of The Cat {USA}})
Any colt by Extreme Choice is worth a second look, and this 3-year-old will debut here for Australian Bloodstock with just a Cranbourne trial behind him. He was unplaced in that on September 5, but he’ll be in good company with a number of debutants in this race.
The Extreme Cat is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, and he’s drawn barrier 11 with jockey Ethan Brown.
The Extreme Cat | Image courtesy of Australian Bloodstock
The colt was bred by Gilgai Farm and he’s the fourth live foal from the mare Follow That Cat, who is the daughter of a Listed winner and a half-sister to the G1 Robert Sangster S. winner Driefontein (Fastnet Rock). Driefontein also won a pair of Group 3 and Listed races in a five-time stakes-winning career, while the second dam on this page, Follow Gold (Export Price {Fr}), won the Listed AR Creswick S.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Thursday went brilliantly, resulting in a pair of winners at Mornington with Breaking Ground (Snitzel) and Pretty Tavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). At Gosford, Street Gossip (So You Think {NZ}) was part of the postponed meeting.
