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 a couple of likely maiden contenders at the Grafton meeting and we also take a look at a well-bred colt who made an impact in the sale ring and will debut in a Mornington sprint.
Grafton Big Screen Coming Soon Maiden Handicap $22,000 1106m 11.50am
Ornate (Congrats {USA}) could be good each-way value here from a handy gate off the back of a decent resuming run for fifth on the track. A $27,000 Magic Millions 2YO in Training Sale snip, the filly is the first foal of the Sebring mare Florid Affair (NZ) (Sebring), who was a 2-year-old winner.
She is out of Show Exhibit (Danehill {USA}), the dam of four winners and she hails from an internationally successful family with its most famous member the multiple Group 1 winner El Gran Senor (USA) (Northern Dancer {USA}).
Ornate at the Magic Millions 2YO in Training Sale
Grafton Winning Edge Presentations Maiden Handicap $22,000 1106m 12.25pm
The Bruce Hill-trained Champagne Vega (Lope De Vega {IRE}) finished a solid fourth at his Gold Coast debut off the back of trial placings and with that run under his belt he can be more competitive in this. The 3-year-old is from one of the best-performed families in the New Zealand Stud Book as a member of the ‘Belle’ clan.
Champagne Vega as a yearling
His dam Palme D’Or (Royal Academy {USA}) is out of the dual Group 2 winner Delightful Belle (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}), a half-sister to the G1 Golden Slipper winner Belle Du Jour (Dehere {USA}). A sibling to four winners, Champagne Vega also has the benefit of the inside gate in this dash for the cash.
Mornington Sarah Ellis Plate $22,000 1200m 2.00pm
Asgard Massif (Fastnet Rock) was a high-priced 2-year-old as his pedigree would suggest. Purchased for $400,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, the colt is a son of the former Singapore Horse of the Year Jolie’s Shinju (JPN {Jolie’s Halo {USA}).
All four of her foals to race have been successful with the star of the brood so far the dual Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Formality (Fastnet Rock). Her brother Asgard Massif has won his only trial for the Davis and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig stable and will have the services of the in-form Jordan Childs in the saddle.
Asgard Massif at the Karaka Ready To Run Sale
