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 Friday, we start out at Te Awamutu where there is a well-related filly in action, then to Tuncurry where a son of Snitzel makes his debut and to Geelong, where a colt from a former star racemare gets his career underway.
Te Awamutu Race 2 - Home of Champions Maiden - $10,000 - 1150m - 10.42 AEST, 12:42 NZST
Rocket Fuel (Smart Missile {Aus}) has made an encouraging start to her career and certainly as you might expect given her background.
The well-related 3-year-old was a trial winner last season before she finished runner-up on debut at Ruakaka and looks well-placed here to go one better. The filly was a $60,000 purchase for co-trainer Graham Richardson at the William Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and is a daughter of Lady Annaliese (NZ) (Groom Dancer {USA}), who ran third in the G1 New Zealand Oaks before her sale to American interests. She subsequently won two black type races in North America.
The feature names in Rocket Fuel’s family include the G1 Telegraph H., winner Morar (NZ) (Otehi Bay), the G2 Wellington Cup winner Graphic (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas placegetter Sweepstake (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Rocket Fuel as a yearling
Geelong Race 1 - Bet365 3-Year-Old Maiden Plate - $26,000 - 1300m - 13:30 AEST
Gold Water (Choisir) has yet to make an impact as a broodmare, but her son Felix Felicis (Congrats {USA}) can do his bit to further her record. He will make his debut for Heath Connors here with Jordan Childs charged with the task of overcoming a sticky gate with the colt.
The winner of five races, Gold Water’s CV features a victory in the G2 Angus Armanasco S., and she was also a three-time Group 1 runner-up in the Coolmore Classic, the Storm Queen S., and the Doomben Cup.
A $30,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for Connors, Felix Felicis is from the family of the successful North American sire Stormy Atlantic (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}) and the Group 1 winners Hail Atlantis (USA) (Seattle Slew {USA}) and Bandini (USA) {Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}).
Tuncurry Race 1 - Tuncurry Beach bowling Club Maiden Hcp - $22,000 - 1000m - 12:50 AEST
Acoustix {Snitzel {Aus}) makes his debut at Tuncurry on Friday, having been transferred from Chris Munce to the Tas Morton for his 3-year-old campaign.
This colt was a $240,000 buy at the 2017 Magic Millions sale and is from the stakes-winning mare Alberton Park (NZ), who is from a very strong New Zealand family which includes blacktype winners Alberton Star (NZ), Lady Alberton (NZ) and Straussbridge (NZ).
Straussbridge is the grand-dam of boom O'Reilly (NZ) 3-year-old Brutal, so there's a fair bit of talent on this colt's pedigree page.
He's had a few homes even before he made it to the track. But on the strength of his recent trial, where he finished second, he has some ability and is worth following.
Acoustix pictured as a yearling
