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.
As we inch closer to spring, some of the weekday maidens are becoming particular deep, with a host of well-bred 3-year-olds stepping out for the first time. That is the case on Thursday, and we have found three to hone in on. Our first runner is a daughter of a Group 1 heroine, our second hails from a lovely US family, while our third has a page that is littered with stakes winners.
Seymour, Race 1, 12pm AEST, Tobin Brothers Funerals 3YO Fillies Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Harvest Moon, 3-year-old filly (The Autumn Sun x Pinot {Pierro})
Bred by Arrowfield Group, this filly was consigned by Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was bought by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $420,000.
Harvest Moon is the second foal of the 2017 G1 VRC Oaks heroine Pinot, who was the first horse acquired and campaigned in Australia for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
Harvest Moon as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pinot is a half-sister to the Listed victress Dizlago (Encosta De Lago) and the stakes performers Lucky Lago (Encosta De Lago) and Rock Giselle (Fastnet Rock). Dizelle (Zabeel {NZ}) is the filly’s second dam and she won the 2005 G1 Australian Oaks. Dizelle is a sister to the brilliant Vengeance Of Rain (NZ) - a five-time Group 1 scorer and a half-sister to the dual Listed winner Bernicia (Elusive Quality {USA}) - the dam of the Group 2 victor Old North (Lonhro).
Pinot’s first foal, Burgunder (Snitzel), won a Hawkesbury maiden when trained by Waterhouse and Bott.
Jordan Childs has the ride aboard Harvest Moon, who failed to place in the top three in two trials in New South Wales.
Hawkesbury, Race 2, 1.15pm AEST, HRC Motel Mdn Plate, $50,000, 1100m
Rapido, 3-year-old colt (Capitalist x Madame Cactus {USA} {Cactus Ridge {USA}})
Bred by Olly Tait, this colt was consigned by Twin Hills Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for $700,000.
Rapido is the fifth foal of a Group 2 winner who has thrown two winners.
The colt’s grandam, An Annika Moment (USA) (Mecke {USA}), was a winner in the US and is a half-sister to the stakes performer Soreadyforspring (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Rapido as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Other stakes winners on Rapido’s page include Six Crowns (USA) (Secretariat {USA}) and Dominican (USA) (El Corredor {USA}).
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, the colt has placed in two of three trials and will be ridden by Brett Prebble.
Pinjarra, Race 2, 4.05pm AEST (2.05pm local), Tabtouch Scan My Bet Mdn, $25,000, 1300m
Petrouchka, 3-year-old filly (More Than Ready {USA} x Twinkle Toes {Ire} {Danehill {USA}})
A homebred for Lynward Park Stud’s Van Heemst family, Petrouchka is a half-sister to the stakes winners Baronova (Fiorente {Ire}), I’m Feeling Lucky (Ire) (Bletchley Park {Ire}) and Utgard Loki (Frost Giant {USA}).
More Than Ready (USA)
The filly’s dam is an unraced three-quarter sister to the Listed victress Sumora (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) and she herself has thrown the stakes winners Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Promise To Be True (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
There is a stack of other stakes winners on Petrouchka’s page and they include Awesome Rock, Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Dr Devious (Ire) and Archway (Ire).
Looking Back
In Race 1 at Canterbury Manwe (Kementari) was an impressive winner on debut, while First Landing (NZ) (Deep Field) was sixth. Spellmaster (NZ) (Savabeel) was unplaced in Race 2 at Sandown-Lakeside.
