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, a $1.7m colt makes his re-appearance at Kensington, while a half-sister to Russian Revolution looks to break her maiden. At Geelong, a Fastnet Rock filly out of a Group 1 winner makes her debut.
Kensington Race 1, Everest Carnival 3YO Mdn Hcp, $60,000, 1300m, 12:45pm AEST
Some interesting runners on this Kensington program and this opening race maiden is no exception. Diplomatico (Snitzel) was the equal fourth most expensive yearling bought in Australia in 2017 and returns for his first start as a 3-year-old, having been beaten narrowly at his debut back in June. He looks to have taken massive improvement in his time away, winning a recent Rosehill trial by six lengths.
Out of the Anabaa mare Top Cuban, Diplomatico is a half to black-type winner Havana as well as former Hong Kong boom horse Jing Jing Win. The massive price for him as a yearling came from Hong Kong interest through George Moore Bloodstock and it will be interesting to see how long he stays in Australia.
Diplomatico as a yearling
Kensington Race 2, Everest Carnival 3YO Mdn Hcp, $60,000, 1300m, 1:20pm AEST
Galina (Smart Missile), a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winning sprinter and Newgate first-season stallion Russian Revolution (Snitzel), is again looking to break her maiden at her sixth start for Peter and Paul Snowden.
In her previous four starts she has been very competitive, beaten less than 1.5l on each occasion, including her third when resuming at Newcastle last time out over 1400m. She looks well-placed to break her maiden here.
She was a $300,000 buy from the Newgate draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Sale by the China Horse Club, who have clearly taken a shine to the progeny of the dam Ballet D'Amour (USA). She had already produced G3 winner Turbo Miss (Sebring) before Russian Revolution, while the 2-year-old colt Autocratic (Wandjina) ran seventh in Saturday's Breeders' Plate.
Galina as a yearling
Geelong Race 1, bet365 Mdn Plate, $26,000, 1240m, 12:00pm AEST
Notation (Fastnet Rock) makes her debut for Lindsay Park off a very speedy jumpout performance at Flemington, where she sat wide, set the pace and won well. She did have a trial back in May but has been given time to grow and develop over the winter.
A $240,000 weanling buy by James Harron Bloodstock, Notation's dam Chocolicious (Saf) is a South African Group 1 winner, whose first foal by Frankel (GB) sold for $610,000. Her second dam, Candy Box, was also a Group winner so there is plenty of quality in the family.
