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.
The three-day Swan Hill carnival kicks off on Friday and we have found a couple of well-related geldings that will debut there. The first is a Hellbent 3-year-old, and the second is a Starspangledbanner juvenile.
Swan Hill, Race 1, 12.15pm AEST, Bet365 Odds Drift Protector Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1200m
Perdition, 3-year-old gelding (Hellbent x Hesitation {Not A Single Doubt})
Bred by Harry Mitchell, this gelding was offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to Mitch Freedman Racing for $160,000.
Perdition as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Perdition is the second foal of a three-time winner who is a half-sister to the Group 3 victress Flying Jess (Hinchinbrook).
The gelding’s second dam, Maritess (Magic Albert), won three races and was placed in Listed grade. She is a half-sister to the Listed scorer and Group 3 placegetter Come Fly With Me (More Than Ready {USA}).
Declan Bates has been engaged for Perdition’s debut.
Swan Hill, Race 4, 4pm AEST, Commercial Hotel Swan Hill VOBIS Gold Elvstroem Classic, $125,000, 1300m
Battle Fleet, 2-year-old gelding (Starspangledbanner x Siempre {Artie Schiller {USA}})
This is a homebred for the Moodie family’s Contract Racing.
The Mathew Ellerton-trained gelding is from an unraced half-sister to the stakes performer Brunello (Testa Rossa) and the five-time winner Icy Maiden (Xaar {GB}) - the dam of the Listed scorer Arctic Angel (Hard Spun {USA}).
Starspangledbanner | Standing at Coolmore Stud
Battle Fleet’s second dam, Marsiliana (Marscay), was unraced and is a three-quarter sister to the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Queensland Oaks heroine Arctic Scent (Blazing Sword) and the Listed winner Appleby Fair.
Jarrod Fry will ride Battle Fleet, who will break from gate two.
Looking Back
On Thursday, Lovely Thoughts (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) finished fourth in Race 1 at Gosford, while Yallingup Girl (Playing God) was second in Race 3 at Pinjarra.
