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.
At Goulburn on Tuesday, we have a couple of nice debutantes; one by So You Think (NZ), the other a daughter of The Autumn Sun. And at Swan Hill a well-related Deep Field gelding heads to the races for the first time.
Goulburn, Race 3, 2.25pm AEDT, Horizon Finance Group Country Boosted Mdn Plate, $30,000, 1200m
So You Suggest, 3-year-old filly (So You Think {NZ} x Suggestions {NZ} {Any Suggestion})
This filly is from a three-time winner who is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Ferlax (NZ). So You Suggest’s second dam, Legs Akimbo (Marscay), is a half-sister to the stakes performer Ankle Biter (Mukaddamah {USA}).
Middlebrook Valley Lodge offered the filly at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She was bought for $100,000 by her trainer Todd Howlett and Salvador Bloodstock.
So You Suggest as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
So You Suggest heads into her debut on the back of four trials. She placed second at Wyong on May 2, before running third at the same track on September 18.
Jay Ford has the ride.
Goulburn, Race 6, 4.15pm AEDT, Goulburn Mulwaree Council Mdn Plate, $30,000, 1000m
Slinky, 3-year-old filly (The Autumn Sun x Late Spring {USA} {Speightstown {USA}})
Bred by Vieira Group, this filly was consigned by Widden Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was knocked down to Harp Thoroughbreds, Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $200,000.
Slinky is out of a three-time winner and stakes performer. The filly’s grandam, April Frost (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}), placed in Listed grade.
Slinky as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Stakes winners on Slinky’s page include April Starlight (USA) (Storm Bird {USA}) and Sovereign (Ire).
The Bjorn Baker-trained filly won a Hawkesbury trial back in December. She has been prepped-up for debut with five trials.
Andrew Adkins will partner Slinky and she will break from the inside alley.
Swan Hill, Race 3, 2.30pm AEDT, Ultima Hotel Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1200m
Deep Core, 3-year-old gelding (Deep Field x Chilled Rose {Artie Schiller {USA}})
This gelding was not offered at public auction. He is from a half-sister to the Listed winner Medal Kun (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), who raced in Singapore as King Louis, as well as the stakes performer Bound To Blush (Strategic). The latter is the dam of the Listed winner Final Award (Smart Missile), who raced in Macau as Gon Sai Baau.
Deep Field
Deep Core’s second dam, Run For Roses (Danehill {USA}), is an unraced sister to the elite-level scorer and Group 1-producing sire Keeper, and is closely related to the Group 1 winner Metal Bender (Danasinga).
The gelding is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes and will be ridden by Jarrod Fry.
Looking Back
Copacabana (Toronado {Ire}) ran third at Sandown-Hillside, while Lord Protector (NZ) (Savabeel) was unplaced in the same race. Pairing (Pierro) missed the placings in Race 2 at the Sunshine Coast.
