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 Tuesday, we check out one of the better-bred fillies going around in the first at Flemington, focus is on a former speedy 2-year-old resuming after nearly a year off and runners by Zoustar and Dundeel at Randwick. Happy Cup Day!
Flemington Race 1, G3 Bumble S., $150,000, 1000m, 10.50am AEDT
Some very interesting 2YO fillies contesting this one, including several well-bred first starters. Bella Rosa (Snitzel) makes her debut for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace having won a Cranbourne trial in September and looks well prepared for this.
She is out of the Listed winning mare Swiss Rose (Thorn Park), who has already produced a couple of winners in Fabvier and The Mighty Fed. Swiss Rose is a half-sister to the multiple group winner Prom Queen, a family which also includes former star juvenile Catnipped. She was a $575,000 buy from the Segenhoe draft at this year's Magic Millions.
Bella Rosa pictured as a yearling
Flemington Race 5, Schweppes Flemington Fling, $120,000, 1000m, 1.15pm AEDT
Singular Sensation (Not a Single Doubt) resumes here off a long spell having won her two starts as an early 2-year-old by big margins back in Queensland. A dominant trial win six weeks ago showed she has lost none of her dash and it is interesting that Tony Gollan has targeted this race for her comeback.
She was a $250,000 buy from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Sale. Out of the city-winning mare Tiffen, she is a half sister to the Group 3 winner Lightinthenite, who proved himself a very versatile galloper. Tiffen is a half-sister to black-type winners Happen and Major.
Singular Sensation pictured as a yearling
Randwick Race 3, Camera House Mdn, $50,000, 1200m, 1pm AEDT
Zouologist (Zoustar) makes his debut for Chris Waller and given the weekend Zoustar had, it seems appropriate to focus on another of his first crop. He trialled pretty well last month and is drawn well in what looks a good race for him.
He was catalogued in both the Magic Million and Easter Sales in 2017, but was withdrawn from both, with his breeders Bylong Park electing to race him themselves. He is out of the unraced mare Fools Gold, who is the half sister to Group 1 winning mare Driefontein, out of the black-type winner Follow Gold.
Zouologist pictured as a yearling
As a bit of a bonus, we'll also mention Nordicus (Dundeel {NZ}) from the same race. We had him in this column for Sunday at Goulburn, but he was scratched and saved for this.
Being out of Miss Finland, it was always pretty likely he'd have talent and off a couple of recent trail wins, this colt looks to have improved substantially since his one start as a 2-year-old, where he was soundly beaten.
A $900,000 yearling buy for Boomer Bloodstock, he is the most expensive of the three Miss Finland colts to have gone through the sales. G1 Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me is the highlight of the progeny so far.
Nordicus pictured as a yearling
