Looking Ahead - October 20

4 min read

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 Saturday, Noire's half-brother lines up at Ashburton, we check out a recent trial winner debuting at Doomben, Australia's most expensive yearling filly makes her bow at Randwick and a well-related colt kicks his career off at Newcastle.

Ashburton Race 4, McCormick Bin Hire Maiden, $10,000, 1600m, 1:47pm NZDT, 11:47am AEDT

The pedigree of Publicist (Redoute’s Choice) received a significant update recently when his half-sister Noire (Foxwedge) won the G2 Shannon S. They are out of the Woodman (USA) mare Valadon, who is a half-sister to the G2 Wakeful S., winner Timbourina (Timber Country {USA}) and the G2 Magic Night S., winner Media (Gilded Time {USA}).

A $560,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Publicist hasn’t been far away in both of his starts and the step up to 1600 metres will be to his liking. Trained by Jamie Richards, the colt will be ridden by stable jockey Opie Bosson and will get every chance from an inside gate.

Publicist as a yearling

Randwick Race 1, Forum Group Kirkham Plate, $125,000, 1000m, 12:30pm AEDT

Evening Slippers (Snitzel) was the most expensive filly bought at this year's yearling sales, so is sure to capture plenty of attention on debut. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly lived up to that pricetag with a pretty impressive trial on debut, winning by almost three lengths.

She is a full sister to G1 winning mare Sweet Idea as well as G2 winner Showtime, who himself was a $1.1m yearling purchase. Singapore star Rush is another sibling. You just have to look at her owners to know that she is something special. American Jon Kelly got together with Reg Inglis and Paul Frampton to buy her and Arrowfield and Katsumi Yoshida are now part of her as well.

Evening Slippers as a yearling

Doomben Race 1, St Rita's College, QTIS 2YO Hcp, $70,000, 1110m, 12:38pm AEDT

Okeechobee (Sebring) makes her debut off a recent trial where she travelled very well just off the pace and unleashed a strong finish to win without really being touched. She certainly looks well educated by David Vandyke and should be able to camp close to her rivals from barrier 2.

She was a $210,000 buy for her trainer at this year's Magic Millions sale. She's from a very strong family out of an unraced Darley mare, who is a sister to Furnaces, who was a G3 winning 2-year-old. Two of the other siblings to the dam, Barbeque and Irish Times were also 2YO winners. It's also the family of Cloister, the dam of Melito, as well as Pariah.

Okeechobee as a yearling

Newcastle Race 5, Mayfield Ex-Services Club Mdn, $35,000, 3:06pm AEDT

Bjorn Baker's colt Newstead (Not A Single Doubt), bought for $320,000 at the Magic Millions, starts his career here, having had a couple of trials in the lead-up, the latest of which saw him close up in the heavy conditions at Warwick Farm.

He is out of the stakes-placed mare Miss Sharapova (NZ), who is a half-sister to the smart filly Villa Verde. Further back, it’s the family of Sushi Rocket, Rory's Twig, Ha Ha as well as Group 1 winning mares Southern Speed and Go Indi Go. This colt's older full sister Pretty Fast has won four of her 10 starts, including a Listed race while the younger half-brother by Snitzel sold for $900,000 earlier this year.

Newstead as a yearling