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 Timaru where a promising filly looks poised to break her maiden, then head to Cessnock for a very well-related filly making her debut and check out Ballarat where a Darren Weir colt is looking to make it two wins from as many starts.
Phar Lap Raceway Race 2, Onceuponatime Maiden, $10,000, 1200m, 12.27pm NZDT (10:27am AEDT)
Upscale (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has given strong accounts in both of her starts for Riccarton trainer Danny Crozier. She finished strongly for fifth in her lone appearance last season and she produced a big finish for second when resuming last month. Upscale isn’t nominated for the G1 gavelhouse.com New Zeasland 1000 Guineas, but victory here could sway her connections.
The 3-year-old was a $22,500 Karaka purchase and is out of the Stravinsky (USA) mare Precious (NZ). She is a grand-daughter of the G3 Tea Rose S., winner Sabre Dancer (Twig Moss {FR}) and the family of the G3 Winter Cup winner Quiltella (Riverton {FR}).
Cessnock Race 4, Peden’s Hotel Maiden, $22,000, 1150m, 3.05pm AEDT
Hinchinbrook 3-year-old Brazenbrook has a deep and speed-orientated pedigree to back her claims here for trainer Kris Lees. She is out of La Boisselle (Danehill {USA}), who was successful up to 1200 metres. She is a half-sister to the former champion colt and three-time Group 1 winner Assertive Lad (Zeditave) and his sibling Assertive Lass, who won twice at the highest level. She in turn left the G1 Australian Guineas winner Reset (Zabeel {NZ}).
Brazenbrook has been given a couple of quiet recent trials to ready her for this and with a touch of early luck from an awkward gate she could shine on debut.
Ballarat Race 8, Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series Heat 2, $50,000, 1600, 4:30pm AEST
Tavidance (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) steps straight from an impressive maiden win into a showcase BM64, but looks to have talent to burn. He worked home very well late on debut and looks like he will relish the step to 1600m.
He was a $220,000 buy at the Premier Sale last year and is out of Zadancer (Zabeel {NZ}), who was an unraced half sister to the very speed Heatherly (Lonhro). The dam of those two mares, Dancing Heather is a half-sister to G1 Stradbroke H winner Linton.
Tavidance as a yearling
