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.
Thursday at Wyong, we look at a debutante 2-year-old who is a half-sister to a consistent Group performer. At Pakenham, we look at a filly from the Ride The Rapids (River Rough {NZ}) family.
Wyong, Race 1, 12.50pm AEST, Wyong Trainers – Contributing More Than Just Winners Mdn, $40,000, 1000m
Helpisonitsway, 2-year-old filly (Headwater x Help {NZ} {Savabeel})
This filly is a daughter of Headwater from the Savabeel mare Help (NZ), and she is a half-sister to the filly Neighbourhood (Street Boss {USA}), who was third in the G3 Kevin Heffernan S. and fourth in Group company on a further three occasions. Further along, it’s the family of Honor Babe (NZ) (Honor Grades {USA}), a Champion New Zealand stayer in 2002/03.
Helpitsonitsway was consigned by Sledmere Stud to the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where she was bought by Gold Edge Syndications for $115,000.
Helpisonitsway as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is trained by Gary Portelli and she’s been unusually placed for this debut. She is the only 2-year-old in the field of older horses, albeit she comes in with good trial form. On March 6 at Kembla Grange, she won her first and only trial, and in this maiden appearance she has apprentice jockey Tyler Schiller from barrier seven.
Sportsbet-Pakenham, Race 1, 5.30pm AEST, Schweppes Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Acquarello, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x River Pebbles {Al Maher})
This filly was bred by Rifa Mustang in 2019 and she’s got a very recognisable page. Her dam is a full sister to River Delta (Al Maher), a Listed winner, and a half-sister to Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel), a Group 3 and triple Listed winner. This is the famous family of Ride The Rapids, responsible for such names as the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove (Hurricane Sky), in turn the dam of Headwater.
Acqaurello was consigned to the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Sledmere Stud where she sold to Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $400,000.
Acquarello as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is trained at Cranbourne by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. She’s had two preparations to date, in the latest of which she’s been good in trials. She was a trial winner at home on March 28, and she comes into this debut with jockey Daniel Moor and barrier six.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Wednesday were luckless. At Ballarat, Another You (Frosted {USA}) was unplaced, while at Hawkesbury, Razella (Hellbent) was also unplaced.
