By Bren O'Brien
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.
On Monday, we take in a couple of strong maidens in Echuca, where there are some highly rated 3-year-olds engaged, while there's a debutant at Dubbo who also caught our attention, and not just because of his name.
Echuca, Race 1, $23,000 3YO Fillies Maiden - 1100m - 12:20 AEST
This is a cracking maiden with six of these fillies holding nominations for the G1 Thousand Guineas. Shamwow (NZ} (Shamexpress {NZ} has a huge boom on her after a strong trial win at Cranbourne. She was a $300,000 buy at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions and bred to be speedy out of a family which includes Star Satire and Satin Shoes.
Shamwow, pictured as a yearling
The most expensive yearling in the race is Miss Ladybird (Snitzel {Aus}), the $320,000 filly who based on her three recent jumpouts and gear she will race in, may benefit from the education.
Miss Ladybird, pictured as a yearling
But it is Adagirl (Lonhro {Aus}) who creates particular interest. She had one run in the Wellington Boot, where she went too hard in the blinkers and finished third. She has won two trials by big margins without blinkers ahead of this race and comes up with an inside barrier. She was also a $300,000 Magic Millions buy who is out of G2 winning New Zealand mare Adaline.
Adagirl, pictured as a yearling
Echuca, Race 4 , $23,000 Maiden - 1400m - 14:00 AEST
Million-dollar colt Ifyouknowwhatimean (Sebring {Aus}) makes his return to the racetrack with a possible tilt at the 3YO features still on his radar. Ifyouknowwhatimean was purchased for $1.4 million at the Easter Sales, putting him in the top ten most expensive Australian yearlings of 2017. There is black-type everywhere in his pedigree, with his three-quarter sister a G2 winner in South Africa.
He had one start as a 2-year-old, and while he was well-beaten, a horse he finished alongside of in his debut, Cross Legend, won on Saturday. He has had a couple of jumpouts at Flemington, and while he didn’t show much pace, he kicks off here at 1400m, so that won't be as important.
Ifyouknowwhatimean, pictured as a yearling
Dubbo, Race 1, $20,000 Maiden - 1120m - 12:25 AEDT
There is also a former million dollar yearling running around at Dubbo on Monday (Red Knot (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) in Race 6) but instead we’ve chosen to focus on the intriguingly named The Nutter (Your Song {Aus}) who makes his debut in Race 1 for Brett Cavanough.
The Nutter's path to the racetrack was through the weanling sales ($7,000) and after being passed in as a yearling, he then went through the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, where he was purchased to race in Singapore. Almost 12 months later he makes his debut at Dubbo.
It's been a roundabout way to get there - we are not sure if the name gives a clue - but on his recent trial win at Scone, he is not without ability. He led all the way and will undoubtedly look to do the same in this race.
