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.
For midweek racing on Wednesday, we kick off at Ipswich, where a 2-year-old gelding will hand Zousain his first winner if he salutes. Then, it’s off to Sandown-Lakeside, where a close relation to a Group 1 winner has his first start, before a filly from a big international family commences her career.
Ipswich, Race 1, 3.13pm AEDT (2.13pm local), Contract Chefs Australia 2YO Mdn Plate, $30,000, 800m
Rhumb Line, 2-year-old gelding (Zousain x Satisfied {Charge Forward})
This gelding, who was bred by River Junction, was not offered at public auction.
Rhumb Line is from a 1900-metre winner who is a three-quarter sister to the G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Response (Charge Forward) - the dam of the elite-level scorer Estijaab (Snitzel) and the Group 3 winner Remarque (Snitzel). Satisfied has thrown the 2-year-old winner Tifosi (Menari).
Zousain | Standing at Widden Stud
The Group 2 victress Returntosender (Elusive City {USA}) also features on the gelding’s page.
The Mark Currie-trained Rhumb Line will debut under Kyle Wilson-Taylor.
Sandown-Lakeside, Race 1, 3.40pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Owners Incentive Scheme Plate, $55,000, 1200m
Melidesh, 3-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Lubiton {Snitzel})
This colt was offered by his breeder - Longwood Thoroughbred Farm - at the 2002 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was passed in.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Melidesh is the second foal from a five-time winner who scored in Group 3 company.
Melidesh as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt’s third dam Camino Rose (Sea Rose) won nine races including the G1 Coolmore Classic in 1999.
Twitchy Frank (Frankel {GB}) - a seven-time winner and Group 2 victress - also features prominently on Melidesh’s page.
The co, who debuts in the hands of Thomas Stockdale, was unplaced in a Cranbourne trial on August 7.
Sandown-Lakeside, Race 2, 4.15pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Communities Plate, $55,000, 1400m
Justaboom, 3-year-old filly (Justify {USA} x Kononkop {Arg} {Pure Prize {USA}})
Morning Rise Stud bred this filly and she was consigned by Coolmore Stud at the 2002 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Griffiths de Kock Racing, MDK International, Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) and Vermaak Equine went to $150,000 to secure her.
Justaboom as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This is the third foal from the Champion Filly in Argentina in 20016/17. She won four races including two Group 1s. Kononkop (Arg) is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Kolla (Arg), as well as Kokola (Arg) - the dam of the Group 2 scorer Kodiak Boy (Arg) (Treasure Beach {GB}).
Justaboom’s grandam, Korea (USA) (Southern Halo {USA}), posted three victories, with one of them in Listed grade. She is a half-sister to the stakes performers Slate Run (USA) (Hennessy {USA}) and Count The Kisses (USA) (Geiger Counter {USA}).
The filly will be handled by Jamie Mott.
Looking Back
On Tuesday, Ezeiza (Rubick) won impressively on debut in Race 2. Trapeze Warrior (Trapeze Artist) was withdrawn from Race 2, while Justaboom (Justify {USA}), who was scratched from Race 4, is slated to debut in Race 2 at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
