Worth Watching 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.
On Thursday we are looking at a couple of quality fillies in action at Sale and a well-related 3yo at Newcastle coming off a good trial win into his first start.
Sale, Race 4, $26,000 Maiden - 1422m - 14:00 AEST
Queen of Ascot (Redoute's Choice) makes her raceday debut and given her pedigree could be a horse to follow through the spring. Trained by Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin, the 3yo filly looks a likely VRC Oaks type, and holds a nomination for the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Her dam Crystalised (Zabeel) is a half sister to three very nice horses, including the G1 South Australian Derby and G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Zarita (Pentire (GB)) as well as star Hong Kong sprinter Joy and Fun (NZ) (Cullen (NZ)), a winner of the G1 HKJC Chairman's Sprint.
Queen of Ascot (Redoute's Choice x Crystalised) pictured as a yearling
She was brought for $190,000 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and had a recent trial at Cranbourne (Watch) where she sat on the pace and finished third.
Sale Race 1, $26,000 Maiden - 1013m - 12:30 AEST
Downloads (Fastnet Rock) gets her chance to break her maiden when she resumes against her own age and sex in what looks a very winnable race. She was brought for $850,000 by Dean Hawthorne for Pinecliff at the 2017 Easter Yearling Sale and was competitive with some top-line juveniles in her first preparation.
Downloads (Fastnet Rock x Dance Mix) pictured as a yearling
While resuming in a maiden here, she holds nominations for the G1 Golden Rose and the Thousand Guineas, which is a measure of how highly Lindsay Park think of her. She is certainly in the right pedigree to make the top level, with the likes of Flying Spur, Encosta De Lago, I am a Star and Tulip all in the family of her dam Dance Mix (USA) (Hennessy (USA)).
Newcastle Race 5, $30,000 maiden, 900m - 14:55 AEST
Happy Bubbles (Snitzel) has his first start in what looks a strong maiden over the 900m. Bought for $185,000 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales, he is from a very strong family. His dam Jesse's Girl (Choisir) is a full sister to the multiple Group winning mare Eloping (Choisir) as well as a half to former star 2yo Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner) and impressive recent maiden winner A Fighting Fury (Fastnet Rock).
Happy Bubbles (Snitzel x Jesse's Girl) pictured as a yearling
Happy Bubbles won a Rosehill trial last week, holding out subsequent Gosford maiden winner Debate (So You Think). Given trainer Gerald Ryan's record with offspring of Snitzel, this 3yo is definitely worth keeping tabs on.
