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.
Friday features twilight action at Doomben, with two debutants showing some promise in their trials, while a well-bred daughter of I Am Invincible debuts at Canterbury Park.
Doomben, Race 2, 3.34pm AEDT (2.34pm local), Mount Franklin Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1110m
Spruce, 3-year-old filly (Pariah x Sister Bruce {Shamardal {USA}})
Making her debut at Doomben on Friday is Spruce, a 3-year-old filly from the Tony Gollan stable.
By Pariah, who has had success in Queensland with the likes of Swiss Exile, this filly is out of the Shamardal (USA) mare Sister Bruce, who produced the Listed Oaklands Plate winner Westport (Not A Single Doubt) and the prolific winner Big Bad Bruce (Not A Single Doubt).
Spruce as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sister Bruce is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Un De Sceaux (Hinchinbrook), and also boasts a relation to G1 Golden Slipper S. star Dance Hero (Danzero).
Angela Jones partnered the filly to an impressive 2l trial win at Doomben on November 23 over 1000 metres, and will be legged up for the ride on Friday. Recently winning her first stakes race aboard Zarastro (I Am Invincible), Jones strikes at 19 per cent when riding for Tony Gollan, from a shade under 350 career rides.
Spruce was purchased by Black Soil Bloodstock and Gollan Racing for $240,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Doomben, Race 3, 4.14pm AEDT (3.14pm local), Sky Racing Mdn Plate, $40,000, 1100m
Shy Rebel, 3-year-old filly (Merchant Navy x Shy Girl {USA} {Bernardini {USA}})
Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke heads to Doomben on Friday to debut his daughter of Merchant Navy, Shy Rebel.
Vandyke parted with $160,000 to secure the filly at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park. By the brilliant sprinter Merchant Navy, who has already produced a Group 1 winner in the form of Royal Merchant, he recently notched up 50 career winners as a stallion.
Shy Rebel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Her dam Shy Girl (USA), a daughter of Bernardini (USA), never raced, but she produced multiple Listed winner Strike Lightning (USA) (Jimmy Creed {USA}), who has chalked up 17 wins in Puerto Rico.
Given just the one trial in preparation for her debut, she finished second in a 1000-metre heat at the Sunshine Coast. Apprentice Bailey Wheeler will take the ride on Friday, bringing her weight down to 54 kilograms after Wheeler’s two kilogram claim.
Canterbury Park, Race 3, 7pm AEDT, Schweppes H., $60,000, 1100m
Monte Kate, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Arabian Gold {Dubawi {Ire}})
Canterbury Park will be the unveiling of promising I Am Invincible filly Monte Kate, who brings a regal pedigree to the Friday night meeting.
In the care of Kembla Grange training partnership Rob and Luke Price, the filly has been trialling superbly in the last month, winning two heats, including one at Warwick Farm over 812 metres by 2.5l.
Monte Kate as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
By champion stallion I Am Invincible, Monte Kate is out of G2 BRC Roses S. winner Arabian Gold, who won nine races, five at black-type level, and placed in the G1 Queensland Oaks as a 3-year-old. Her only foal to race previously is Lakia (Redoute’s Choice), who was a winner over 1200 metres.
Purchased for $400,000 by Roughwood Park at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the filly will be partnered by Adam Hyeronimus for her first career start.
Looking back
Climate Change (Too Darn Hot {GB}) got Thursday off to a flying start, scoring an authoritative victory at Geelong. Also at Geelong, Melidish (I Am Invincible) was able to run third, while Life Of Stone (Deep Field) did not participate in his scheduled race at Gosford.
