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.
John McArdle will unveil two intriguing gallopers at Echuca on Saturday, while Chris Waller will debut a son of the Champion First Season Sire Justify (USA).
Echuca, Race 1, 12.56pm AEST, O’Connors CIH Echuca Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1200m
Tight Grip, 3-year-old gelding (Trapeze Artist x La Questa {West Quest {Can}})
Mornington horseman John McArdle will unveil Tight Grip, a son of the second-season sire Trapeze Artist, at Echuca on Saturday.
The gelding is the first foal from the unraced West Quest (Can) mare La Questa. She is a half-sister to Courgette (Charge Forward), the dam of the G1 Golden Slipper heroine She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) and the G2 Silver Slipper victor Time To Reign.
Tight Grip as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Tight Grip was a $110,000 purchase by Fernrigg Farm from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Fernrigg Farm reoffered Tight Grip at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where they sold him for $140,000 to Redgum Racing.
Echuca, Race 2, 1.31pm AEST, Border Inn Hotel Moama Mdn Plate, $27,000, 12000m
Tidal Surge, 3-year-old filly (So You Think {NZ} x Eventide {Dane Shadow})
Tidal Surge, a daughter of So You Think (NZ) from the John McArdle stable, will join her stablemate Tight Grip and debut at Echuca on Saturday.
The filly is the third foal from the Dane Shadow mare Eventide. She won seven races and is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Extreme Impact (Snitzel) and the Listed placegetter Wine Night (Playing God).
Tidal Surge as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Furthermore, this is the family of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) victor Shrewd Rhythm.
Tidal Surge was a $140,000 purchase by Silverdale Farm and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) when offered by Burke Bloodstock at the 2021 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Silverdale Farm reoffered the filly at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where she sold to Redgum Racing for $180,000.
Newcastle, Race 6, 3.45pm AEST, Red Funnel CG&E Super Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1250m
Jurisprudence, 3-year-old colt (Justify {USA} x Eckstein {I Am Invincible})
On Saturday at Newcastle, Champion Trainer Chris Waller will debut a son of the Champion First Season Sire Justify, Jurisprudence.
The colt is the first and only foal from the late I Am Invincible mare Eckstein. She won eight races, including the G3 Southern Cross S. and the G3 Glenlogan Park S. Eckstein was also placed in the G1 Myer Classic.
Jurisprudence as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The fourth dam of Jurisprudence is the Bletchingly mare Canny Lass, a triple Group 1 winner.
Furthermore, this is the family of Rothesay, a Group 2 winner and a Group 1-producing sire.
Jurisprudence was a $450,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
Friday's selections provided a winner. The royally bred Time Of My Life (I Am Invincible) was a winner on debut at Geelong, while Fury (Written Tycoon) was unplaced at the same venue. We will have to wait till Saturday at Newcastle to see Jurisprudence (Justify {USA}) hit the track after the well-bred colt was scratched from his engagement at Newcastle in preference for Newcastle's Saturday meeting.
