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 Tuesday, we take a look at a very interesting Newcastle meeting featuring one well-related colt and one high-priced filly, plus an unlucky filly at Bairnsdale who deserves to break her maiden.
Newcastle Race 2 - PKF Newcastle 3YO Mdn - $34,000 - 900m- 13:25 AEST
The one-time high-priced yearling Starry ((Exceend and Excel {Aus}) kicks off her 3-year-old campaign in what looks a winnable maiden at Newcastle.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have several promising horses either resuming or having their first starts on Tuesday and this filly looks well prepared after a couple of trials headed into this race. She had two starts as a 2YO, and while she didn’t figure in the placings, showed enough to suggest there is talent there.
Bought for $800,000, she is out of the G2 winning American mare Dream Play {USA}), who is also the dam of multiple stakes winner Zululand (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was a one-time $1.5 million yearling buy himself. Starry's younger full sister sold for $400,000 at this year's Easter Sales.
Starry (Exceed and Excel - Dream Play), pictured as a yearling
Newcastle Race 7 - Cessnock Rugby League Old Boys Mdn - $34,000 - 1300m- 16:25 AEST
Invictus Warrior (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) makes his debut on Tuesday and is set to create plenty of interest as the half-brother to two G1 winners.
The Chris Waller-trained colt is out of Kisma {Snippets {Aus}), who is also the dam of dual Group 1 winner Red Tracer and G1 sprinter Shellscrape. One of Kisma's other colts, Counterattack, was a Group 3 winner who stood at Kitchwin Hills last season before shuttling to Germany.
This colt, homebred by Geoff Grimish, has had one trial ahead of his debut, finishing sixth.
Bairnsdale Race 4 - Coopers Buses Hire Drive & Charter Mdn - $23,000 - 1200m- 14:30 AEST
Mrs O'Malley (Street Boss {USA}) has featured in the stewards' report in both her runs to date, including her last start at Pakenham when she was held up for close to 400m before finishing seventh.
She is a half sister to a couple of other handy horses trained by Enver Jusofovic in Pathways and Necessary, being out of Rite of Passage (Choisir {USA}) who was once a $320,000 yearling buy. Worth following this campaign.
