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.
Two well-bred fillies will debut at Kilcoy and Grafton, respectively, on Sunday.
Kilcoy, Race 1, 10.34am AEST, Thanks Somerset Regional Council QTIS 2YO H., $20,000, 800m
Spring Bird, 2-year-old filly (Capitalist x Spring Tempest {Can} {Spring At Last {USA}})
Eudlo-based trainer Stuart Kendrick will debut a daughter of Capitalist, Spring Bird, at Kilcoy on Sunday.
The filly is the first foal from the Spring At Last (USA) mare Spring Tempest (Can). She was a dual winner, winning once as a juvenile and claiming the Listed Muskoka S. and was placed in the G3 Mazarine S. at Woodbine.
Spring Bird as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She is a half-sister to Battle Strike (USA) (Connect {USA}) who has been placed in the Listed Victoria S. and the fellow Listed-placed Sarahline (USA) (Northern Afleet {USA}).
Spring Bird was a $70,000 weanling purchase by All Winners Thoroughbreds from the draft of Newgate Consignment at the 2021 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Grafton, Race 1, 12.15pm AEST, Southside Pharmacy 2YO Springboard Prelude Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1015m
Constant Cafe, 2-year-old filly (More Than Ready {USA} x State Of Play {Fastnet Rock})
On Sunday, the jockey-turned-trainer for A List Stud, Allan Chau, will debut a daughter of the late More Than Ready (USA), Constant Cafe, at Grafton.
The filly is the second foal from the Fastnet Rock mare State Of Play. She was a winner over 2000 metres and hails from the family of More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Constant Cafe as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The outstanding More Joyous was crowned Champion Middle Distance Horse in Australia in 2011/12. One of the finest mares to grace the track, More Joyous retired a winner of 21 races, including the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., the G1 Doncaster H. and the G1 Queen of the Turf twice.
Constant Cafe was a $115,000 yearling purchase by A List Stud from the draft of Blue Gum Farm at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Saturday's selections fared okay. The Ben and JD Hayes-trained Stellar Olympus (Starspanglebanner) scored in gritty style at Flemington on debut. While at Kembla Grange Colours Of Autumn (The Autumn Sun) and Tonkatsu Goddess (Snitzel) were unplaced in Race 3.
