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.
Bendigo provides the venue for all three of Sunday’s selections. Two are looking to get off the mark, including a well-related 2-year-old colt, whilst Luke Oliver has a potential smart prospect in his debut-winning 3-year-old filly.
Apiam Bendigo, Race 1, 11.50am AEST, Smart Loans Bendigo 2YO H., $37,500, 1600m
Be Still The Earth, 2-year-old colt (Shalaa {Ire} x Simply Carina {USA} {El Prado {USA}})
The only debutant in the field of eight maidens, Be Still The Earth looks to get his career off to the best possible start for trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock on Sunday.
He’s out of Simply Carina (USA), a winning miler in the United States, whose own dam was a four-time Group 1 winner there. Simply Carina’s two foals to race are both winners, including Heavenly Blue (Snitzel), a Group 1 winner in South Africa.
Be Still The Earth as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Be Still The Earth was picked up by his trainers in conjunction with Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he cost $280,000.
He will jump from barrier six with Callan Murray on board.
Apiam Bendigo, Race 3, 1.10pm AEST, Dunlop Pitson and Jenkins Civil 3YO Fillies’ BM64, $37,500, 1400m
Power Cable, 3-year-old filly (Cable Bay {Ire} x Exsqueeze Me {Encosta De Lago})
Luke Oliver’s filly Power Cable marked herself as one to follow with her debut win at Moe on June 4. The 0.2l margin that day doesn’t reflect the ease with which she was produced from the rear of the field, when few were making ground, and she steps up both in class and distance (by 200 metres) as she looks to build on that.
Out of the delightfully named Exsqueeze Me, who was unraced, she is a half-sister to five winners including Namimo (Choisir), who was placed in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery.
Cable Bay (Ire) | Standing at Highclere Stud
Her second dam, Juice (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}), was a Group 1 winner in New Zealand, and Power Cable cost her trainer just $10,000 at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
She will have the services of Daniel Stackhouse on Sunday, with the pair to jump from barrier five.
Apiam Bendigo, Race 4, 1.50pm AEST, bet365 Top Tote Plus 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
Fergyliscious, 3-year-old filly (Nicconi x Sutton Queen {Beautiful Crown {USA}})
Having made two starts in 2022, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s Fergyliscious returns after an eight-month break. She placed on both of those starts, latterly on heavy ground, so should handle the surface at Bendigo on Sunday.
Fergyliscious as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fergyliscious is out of the nine-time winner Sutton Queen, making her a half-sister to two winners. She was picked up by her trainers at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where she cost $100,000.
Connections will hope she’s able to overcome barrier eight, with Zac Spain booked to ride.
Looking Back
There wasn't much joy for Saturday's selections. The best result being Mad Deel (Dundeel {NZ}) who placed Kembla Grange. While Deep Dawn (Deep Field) and The Hindustan (NZ) (Savabeel) were both unplaced at Ipswich and Flemington respectively.
