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.
Action on Sunday takes place at Ipswich and Tamworth, with a well-related colt by Better Than Ready garnering some interest for his debut.
Ipswich, Race 1, 12.12pm AEDT (11.12am local), Follow Socials @Ipswichturfclub H., $28,000, 800m
Lucky Man, 2-year-old colt (Better Than Ready x Trickett {General Nediym})
Toowoomba-based trainer Paul Nolan Jnr will unveil his 2-year-old prospect Lucky Man in the opening race at Ipswich, an 800-metre scamper.
Out of a winning daughter of General Nediym, Trickett, Lucky Man is well-related throughout his page. He is a full brother to a three-time juvenile victor, Better Rain, and is a half-sibling to a further two winners over sprinting trips.
Lucky Man as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He is also related to the G3 Breeders’ plate winner Empire Of Japan (Snitzel) and the G2 Run To The Rose H. winner Menari, who subsequently became a stallion.
Lucky Man has yet to be sighted in public trials, and will have apprentice Jake Molloy in the saddle to steer him from barrier five in a field of 10.
Paul Nolan Jnr went to $47,500 to secure him at the start of the year, when he was offered by Yarramalong Park at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Tamworth, Race 3, 3pm AEDT, East West Enviroag Mdn H., $27,000, 1000m
Vercelli, 3-year-old filly (Maurice {Jpn} x Zelrosa {Snitzel})
Racing at Tamworth will host the debut of the well-related Vercelli, who will head north from her home track of Scone to compete in the 1000-metre maiden.
Prepared by the training partnership of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, the daughter of Maurice (Jpn) has been readied for this assignment with two barrier trials, the best being a narrow second over 900 metres at Scone.
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Her dam, Zelrosa, who was victorious over 1100 metres, is a full sister to Switzerland (Snitzel), a winner of the G1 Lightning S., the G2 Danehill S. and the G2 Challenge S., the latter being achieved in track record time. Switzerland went on to produce the G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Hard Landing (All Too Hard). Her other full brother, Sooboog, won the G3 Aurie’s Star H., and has since gone on to carve out a stallion career for himself.
Vercelli was bred by Arrowfield Stud, and has never been offered at public auction. Should she be successful, she will be the first foal of Zelrosa to win, and Maurice’s 102nd Australian winner to date.
Looking Back
At Trentham on Saturday, Unbridled Joy (Snitzel) was able to grab second, while Customized (Capitalist) closed off nicely for third in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Eagle Farm. At Randwick, Capricious Belle (Russian Revolution) wasn't able to trouble the judge in her racetrack debut.
