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 Sunday, we check out a Ciaron Maher/David Eustace debutant with a staying pedigree at Cranbourne, head to Sunshine Coast for a first starter for Toby Edmonds and look to improvement from a Paul Messara filly in a race at Armidale.
Cranbourne Race 1, Cranbourne Hyundai Maiden Plate, $26,000, 1400m, 1:00pm AEDT
Tormino (NZ) (Reliable Man {NZ}) looks a colt who will appreciate a distance in time but on his pedigree and on his recent jumpout at Caulfield. He was niggled along in that jumpout, but did finish just behind the winner, and was doing his best work through the line.
He is out of My Hope (NZ) (Howbaddoyouwantit {USA}), who is a half-sister to black-type winners Extrinite and Vitrinite, both of whom were best suited up at the 2000m and beyond. This colt was a $NZ130,000 buy at the NZB Select Yearling Sale in 2017 and will no doubt be improved on whatever he does on debut.
Sunshine Coast Race 1, Austack Produce Sunshine Coast 3yo Mdn, $15,000, 1000m, 2:15pm AEDT
Heritage Sash (I Am Invincible) makes his debut for the in-form duo of trainer Toby Edmonds and jockey Ryan Maloney having won a trial at the Gold Coast last month. He looked very professional in that trial win, jumping well before sitting off the pace and then putting paid to his rivals down the straight.
This colt sold for $190,000 at the 2017 Classic Sale and is the first foal out of Spurs and Sashes (Flying Spur), who was a five-time winner out of Group 3 winner Royal Sash (Royal Academy {USA}). She is a half sister to Sabatini and Viva Veloce and is also related to Lake Villa and Madame Flurry, the mother of G1 winner Happy Trails.
Heritage Sash as a yearling.
Armidale Race 3, Group 1 Feed Showcase Mdn, $30,000, 1100m, 2:30pm AEDT
Pluma (Animal Kingdom {USA}) looks well-placed to break her maiden tag at her third start having ran third in her first run back from a spell at Scone last month, She was well-supported on that occasion and you’d expect Paul Messara would have improved her from that run.
She was Arrowfield-bred and was bought by Andrew Williams Bloodstock at the 2017 Easter Sale for $100,000. She is from an American/Canadian family which is rich with black-type. The dam is a half-sister to former Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free and is out of Listed winner.
Pluma as a yearling
