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, we travel far and wide with our Looking Ahead selections. Our first runner is a sibling to a Group 1 winner who is now at stud. We then head to Ipswich, where a well-related filly debuts for prominent owner/breeder Judy Wanless. We finish up at The Valley, where an $800,000 yearling lines up for Victoria’s top stable.
Pakenham-Synthetic, Race 4, 2.30pm AEDT (1.34pm local), Grant’s Plumbing Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1400m
Letsavadance (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Savabeel x Magic Dancer {NZ} {Rip Van Winkle {Ire}})
Bred by Chittick Investments, this gelding is from a stakes winner and is a brother to Group 1 victor Noverre (NZ), who now stands at Waikato Stud.
Offered by Sledmere Stud at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, he was bought by Import Racing for $190,000
Letsavadance (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
His grandam, Dazzling Belle (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}), won seven races, including two at Listed level. As well as Magic Dancer, Dazzling Belle has thrown Group 1 placegetter Manten (NZ) (Encosta De Lago).
Patrick Moloney has the ride for Cranbourne trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Ipswich, Race 2, 2.34pm AEDT, Base Metal Fabrication Fillies and Mares Mdn Plate, $26,000, 1350m
French Step, 3-year-old filly (So You Think {NZ} x Vivid Diamonte {Fastnet Rock})
This filly was bred and is raced by Judy Wanless.
French Step is sister to Group 3 winner Majestic Colour and his grandam, Flushed (Redding {NZ}), was a Group 2 winner and has thrown the Flemington winner and stakes performer Bold Moment (Fasliyev {USA}).
So You Think (NZ), sire of French Step | Standing at Coolmore
Listed victress Come On Lady (Comeran {Fr}) is the filly’s fourth dam.
Trained by Kelly Schweida at Eagle Farm, French Step has been to the trials on one occasion and will be ridden on debut by Kyle Wilson-Taylor.
The Valley, Race 1, 5.15pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Mate Plate, $60,000, 1200m
Pink Cashmere, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Bidii Babe {Not A Single Doubt})
Bred by Yarraman Park Stud, this filly made $800,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Offered by her breeder, she was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.
Pink Cashmere is the first foal of Listed winner Bidii Babe (Not A Single Doubt), who is a sister to the South African winner and stakes-performed Lionize.
Pink Cashmere as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The filly’s second dam, Arthur’s Lass (Unduplicated {Can}), won six races and was twice-placed at Listed level.
Pink Cashmere’s third dam is Princess Yeats (Yeats {USA}), who is a sister to the stakes winner Mingling Glances.
Jockey John Allen takes the reins for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, with the filly to jump from gate 10.
Looking Back
On Thursday, Smax (Caravaggio {USA}) made a winning debut on the synthetic track at Ballarat. At Gosford, Bobby’s Fling (Bobby’s Kitten {USA}) ran fourth, while Oakfield Blue Bell (Extreme Choice) was scratched.
