Looking Ahead - September 3

3 min read

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.

Today we look at the prospects of two first-timers at Wangaratta from the respective stables of Mick Price and Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and a Kris Lees debutant at Taree.

Wangaratta Chronicle Maiden Plate $23,000 1590m 12.30pm

Caulfield trainer Mick Price will take the covers off an interesting runner here in Yulong Tavion (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). The three-year-old finished third in a recent trial and owns a pedigree to grow confidence. He was purchased out of Cambridge Stud’s draft at Karaka last year by Yu Long for NZ$425,000.

The colt is a son of the unraced On Arrival (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) whose three foals to race have all won and includes the Group performer Red Melody (NZ) (Stravinslky {USA}).

It is a pedigree full of black type with some of the notable names being the Group winners Rhythm (NZ) (Bakharoff {USA}), Tristachine (NZ) (Sir Tristram {IRE}), Hips Don’t Lie (Stravinsky {USA}) and Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock). Yulong Tavion has a tricky draw to overcome, but with early luck he looks one to keep a close eye on.

Watch: Yulong Tavion as a yearling

GA Cheshire & Sons Earthmoving F & M Maiden Plate $23,000 1400m 1.00pm

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will present a newcomer of note in the form of Maracaibo (Redoute’s Choice). The filly was a $400,000 purchase out of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is a daughter of Spanish Lake (Encosta de Lago).

The dam is an unraced half-sister to the G1 Easter H., winner Calveen (Canny Lad), also a multiple Group 2 winner. G2 Emancipation S., winner Kosi Bay (Spinning World {USA}) features in the family as does the G3 Widden S., winner Fireworks (Snitzel). Maracaibo had a quiet trial recently and her Cranbourne trainers have a good strike rate with their debutantes.

Maracaibo was a $400,000 yearling purchase

Taree Port City Glass Maiden $22,000 1250m 12.15pm

Kalahari (Sizzling) will make his first appearance in this for Kris Lees and there’s enough in his background to suggest that he can give a bold account. He is a son of Outofafrika (Johannesburg {USA}) whose two foals to race have been successful.

They are direct descendants of the great Denise’s Joy (Seventh Hussar {FR}) and therefore the multiple top-flight winner Tuesday Joy. It’s a deep pedigree that also boasts the presences of the Group 1 winners Kementari (Lonhro), Bentley Biscuit (Peintre Celebre {USA}), Thorn Park (Spinning World {USA}) and Arlington Road (Danehill {USA}).

Kalahari is by Newgate stallion Sizzling