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.
Our Looking Ahead selections for Friday are all 3-year-olds and all are on debut in Victoria. Our first two runners are at Yarra Valley and we finish the day with a Playing God filly at Cranbourne.
Yarra Valley, Race 2, 1pm AEDT, Bet365 Protest Promise Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1200m
Nakedness, 3-year-old gelding (So You Think {NZ} x Nothin’ On Me {NZ} {Not A Single Doubt})
Slade Bloodstock and Redgum Racing paid $100,000 for this gelding at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Blue Gum Farm.
Nakedness is the first foal of a 1400-metre winner and Listed placegetter, while his grandam, Tanqueray (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}), who is a half-sister to the six-time winner Brave Kid (Elusive City {USA}), won over 2100 metres.
Nakedness as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The gelding’s third dam, Gordon’s (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), won the G2 Hawke's Bay Cup in 2002, and she is a half-sister to the Group 3 victor Foromor (NZ) (St Hilarion {USA}).
Trained at Mornington by John McArdle, Nakedness will debut under Jake Noonan.
Yarra Valley, Race 4, 2pm AEDT, Pace 30 Year Race Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1500m
Gift Of Oratory, 3-year-old gelding (Churchill {Ire} x Belle Famille {Ire} {Linamix {Fr}})
Bred by Robert Crabtree, this gelding was consigned to the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where Lindsay Park Racing paid $225,000 for him.
Gift Of Oratory is the sixth living foal from an 1800-metre winner and Listed placegetter in France, who is a half-sister to the Group 2 victress Spinola (Fr) (Spinning World {USA}) and the Group 3 winner Shot To Fame (USA) (Quest For Fame {GB}). Spinola is the dam of the Group 3 winner Dorcia (GB) (Henrythenavigator {USA}), who was the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in Scandinavia in 2007, as well as the Listed victress Kirkinola (GB) (Selkirk {USA}).
Gift Of Oratory as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Ben and JD Hayes-trained Gift Of Oratory, who was unplaced in a Wangaratta trial on December 13, will be handled by Jake Duffy.
Cranbourne, Race 3, 7.15pm AEDT, Hertz F&M Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Nunthorpe, 3-year-old filly (Playing God x Latoria {Oratorio})
Bred by Mungrup Stud, this filly is raced by Robert Crabtree and trained by Peter Moody.
Nunthorpe is from a Listed-winning mare, while the filly’s grandam, the unraced Laventour (Metal Storm {Fr}), has produced the G1 Oakleigh Plate heroine Sheidel (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), as well as Latoria.
Playing God, sire of Nunthorpe | Standing at Darling View Thoroughbreds
Fer Forge (Chest Mark) is Nunthorpe’s third dam and she produced the Group 3 winner Track Jester (Tenby {GB}).
Jamie Kah has the ride aboard the brown filly.
Looking Back
From Thursday, Orlabent (Hellbent) finished fourth in Race 1 at Gosford, before Cappella Rose (Capitalist) was seventh in Race 4. At Wangaratta, Killer Bee (More Than Ready {USA}) placed seventh in Race 3.
