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.
Saturday we will highlight three well-bred gallopers making their race-day debuts across Australia.
Sandown-Hillside, Race 1, 11.50am AEST, Ladbrokes Racing Club H., $150,000, 1000m
Sledding, 2-year-old filly (Lonhro x Cool Passion {Not A Single Doubt})
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Sledding, a daughter of the pensioned Champion Lonhro, will make her race debut on Saturday at Sandown-Hillside.
Sledding is the first foal from the late Not A Single Doubt mare Cool Passion. She won 11 races, including the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club S., G3 Kevin Heffernan S. and the G3 Cape Grim Beef Steaks S.
Sledding as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The daughter of Not A Single Doubt was placed in the G1 Robert Sangster S., and was fourth in the G1 Canterbury S.
Furthermore, Cool Passion is a half-sister to Havana Wind (Spinning World {USA}) who won the Listed Australia Day Club.
Sledding was a $1.05 million yearling purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 11.55am AEST, Wollongong Harbour F&M Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Decisively, 3-year-old filly (Extreme Choice x Rose Of Mulan {More Than Ready {USA}})
Champion trainer Chris Waller will debut a blue-blooded daughter of the outstanding Extreme Choice named Decisively at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Decisively is the fourth foal from the More Than Ready (USA) mare Rose Of Mulan. Rose Of Mulan has produced the Group 2-winning Shades Of Rose (Rubick) who sold for $1.6 million to Arrowfield Stud at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale earlier this week.
Decisively as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
In addition, Rose Of Mulan has produced the Group 3 and multiple stakes winner Scallopini (Snitzel).
Given the recent updates to the page and Extreme Choice's success, the $420,000 O’Brien Thoroughbreds and Yes Bloodstock paid at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud looks a wise investment.
Randwick, Race 1, 11.00am AEST, Wilson Asset Management H., $150,000, 1400m
Unique Ambition (NZ), 2-year-old filly (Tavistock {NZ} x Key To Success {NZ} {Thorn Park})
The Randwick-based trainer John Sargent will debut a daughter of the late Tavistock (NZ), Unique Ambition (NZ) at Randwick on Saturday.
Unique Ambition is the fourth foal from the unraced Thorn Park mare Key To Success (NZ). She is a daughter of Akela (NZ) (Al Akbar) a winner of six races and placed at Group 3 level.
Unique Ambition (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Key To Success is a half-sister to Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel) who won eleven races including the G2 Isuzu S., the G2 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. and the G3 Centennial H.
While she was placed four times at the elite level.
At stud, Lady Kipling has produced the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Fascino (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
Unique Ambition was a NZ$220,000 yearling purchase by DGR Thoroughbred Services and John Sargent Racing from the draft of Curraghmore at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Friday's selections fared quite well. Clavadatsch (Justify {USA}) was an impressive winner by 6l on debut at Cranbourne (night), while Sweet Proposal (Dundeel {NZ}) was placed at Goulburn. We will have to wait for another day to see the debut of Winx's (Street Cry {Ire}) half-sister City Of Lights (Deep Impact {Jpn}) as she was scratched from her engagement at Cranbourne on Friday night.
