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.
Looking Ahead on Friday takes a distinct Victorian feel, with all three horses of interest coming out of the jurisdiction, including a half-brother to a talented sprinter.
Colac, Race 1, 1.10pm AEDT, Australian Lamb Company Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
Rockabottle, 3-year-old colt (Fastnet Rock x Pop A Bottle {More Than Ready {USA}})
Friday provides the launching pad of the career of Rockabottle, who will debut in the opening race at Colac for the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable.
The son of Fastnet Rock has no shortage of quality on his page, being the half-brother of the dual Group 2 placegetter Let It Pour (Redoute’s Choice). He is the third foal to make it to the racetrack from the More Than Ready (USA) mare Pop A Bottle, who herself is a full sister to the G1 Caulfield Guineas placegetter Huegill (More Than Ready {USA}).
Fastnet Rock | Standing at Coolmore
Debuting as a 3-year-old, the colt has had three jump-outs to ready him for a competitive debut, including a recent second-placed finish. Veteran country jockey Arron Lynch has been given the keys to burn around the 1100-metre course at Colac aboard him.
Rockabottle is a homebred for Ramsey Pastoral Company in New South Wales, and they have retained him to race in their lime-green colours.
Colac, Race 2, 1.45pm AEDT, Aviso Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1200m
Sunshineinmypocket (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Proisir x Sunrise Ruby {NZ} {Jimmy Choux {NZ}})
Ciaron Maher has proven over the years he has no qualms travelling horses to find them suitable races in country Victoria, with the powerful trainer taking Sunshineinmypocket (NZ) all the way down the Princes Highway to Colac for his racetrack debut.
The son of Proisir has shown some talent in his jump-outs, running sixth and third in two recent attempts. He’s been given a big boost by way of jockey booking, with the talented Irishman John Allen to be legged aboard.
Sunshineinmypocket (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
He is out of the Jimmy Choux (NZ) mare Sunrise Ruby (NZ), who is still awaiting her first winner as a producer (with only one foal to race so far). Further down his page rests one of the stars of the spring, the G1 Empire Rose S. and G1 Champions Mile champion Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).
Sunshineinmypocket was a NZ$6000 weanling purchase at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale from the draft of Hanuai Farm for AG Anderson. He was offered at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, but was passed in at his reserve of NZ$35,000.
Moonee Valley, Race 1, 6.15pm AEDT, Dynamic Print Group Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1000m
Moaksun, 3-year-old gelding (Akeed Mofeed {GB} x Golden Child {I Am Invincible})
Trainer Henry Dwyer is set for a very familiarly themed weekend - his stable star Asfoora (Flying Artie) returns to racing in the G2 Rubiton S. on Saturday at Caulfield, while her half-brother Moaksun kicks off his racing life in the opening race at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
The gelded son of Akeed Mofeed (GB) has shown similar traits to his half-sister, who has so far won the G2 Schillaci S. and the G2 Caulfield S., and ran superstar mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) to a close finish in the G1 Moir S.
Moaksun as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He’s shown some of the traits that can make him a successful racehorse, with some early speed on display in his jump-out at Camperdown in late January. Jockey Mitchell Aitken, who strikes at 12.8 per cent when riding for Dwyer (as opposed to nine per cent across his career) will ride the gelding for his debut around the Moonee Valley circuit.
Moaksun cost Dwyer and connections $120,000 to scoop him up from the draft of Noor Elaine Farm at the 2022 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
On Thursday, Cross Your Heart (Deep Field) was a second-placed effort at Wyong, while Voracious (Maurice {Jpn}) fought on for third at Pakenham.
