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 Thursday, we start out with a Shea Eden 3-year-old resuming at Moe, check out a first-upper from the Darren Weir stable at the dame meeting and then it is off the Happy Valley for a debutant closely related to superstar mare Champagne.
Moe Race 1, TAC 3YO Mdn, $26,000, 1200m, 12:30pm AEDT
Zipspur (Magnus) makes his first appearance since being beaten 2.65l on debut in a high-quality 2-year-old race at Swan Hill in June. He had a recent trial at Cranbourne in preparation for this race, sitting deep on the track and working home nicely for fourth. He should appreciate being closer to the rail in this race from barrier four.
A $215,000 buy at the Premier Sale by trainer Shea Eden, this colt is a full brother to the handy Group 3 winning sprinter Miss Promiscuity out of a half-sister to Furio and Amtrak.
Zipspur as a yearling
Moe Race 6, Hydro Australia Sprint Bm78, $50,000, 1200m, 3:25pm AEDT
Jaws of Steel (Sharkbite) resumes here for Darren Weir having shown considerable improvement since last campaign where he put together back-to-back wins at Warrnambool and Caulfield.
Weir's horses often take considerable improvement heading into their 5-year-old year and it wouldn’t surprise to see this guy graduate to consistent city class this time in.
Jaws of Steel is raced by Pinecliff Racing. Out of the unraced It's Sydney, who is a half sister to the likes of Sports and Medals and full sister to Seika, he was withdrawn from the Adelaide Magic Millions sale as a yearling.
Happy Valley Race 1, Aster Hcp (C4), $154,000, 1200m, 10:15pm AEDT
The intriguingly named Prawn Yeah Yeah (NZ) (Commands) makes his debut for trainer Richard Gibson having had five trials already. The latest of those trials saw him fairly competitive over the 1000m at Sha Tin.
He was a $300,000 buy at the NZB Premier Sale in 2016, out of Alamantra (Elusive Quality), who is half sister to black-type winners Martique and Nadege, and out of star G1 winning mare Champagne. His brother by Exceed and Excel, Unsurpassed (NZ) is stakes-placed.
Prawn Yeah Yeah as a yearling
