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 check out a couple of debutants at the twilight meeting at Kensington with good trial form and strong pedigrees, and head to Moe for a last-start winner looking for her second win.
Kensington Race 1, Twilight Return to Randwick Plate, $50,000, 1100m, 3:05pm AEDT
Single Blonde (Not A Single Doubt) makes her debut for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott off a good, solid trial win a couple of weeks' back. She did everything right after being headed early, tracking the leader through and proving too strong under a grip over the final 200m.
Racing in the famous Hutchins' red and yellow colours, she was bred by Asco International from the Listed winning mare Regrowth (Unbridled's Song {USA}). That makes her a half-sister to G3 2YO winner Colour, who is also the dam of stakes-placed Chamaral. She has an interesting cross back to the family of her sire Not a Single Doubt through her black-type winning grand dam True Blonde who is a half-sister to that stallion's dam Singles Bar.
Moe Race 6, Nextra BM64 H, $25,000, 1628m, 3.30pm AEDT
Thoughtful Harmony (So You Think {NZ}) is a half-brother to five winners, including the three-time Listed winner Little Surfer Girl (Encosta de Lago) with their dam the multiple Group 1 winner Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}). She is a half-sister to Group 2 winning brothers King Canute (King Of Kings {IRE}) and Redwoldt.
Trainer Peter Gelagotis has taken his time with Thoughtful Harmony and she has responded positively with a debut third. The 4-year-old then finished fifth at Sale before she struck the first winning blow of her career. As a course and distance winner, and with far fewer convictions than any other runner in a modest line-up, she can go back-to-back.
So You Think
Kensington Race 2, Summer Racing Hcp, $50,000, 1250m, 3:40pm AEDT
This looks a particularly strong maiden but Go For Gold (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) is well drawn and well prepared enough to make an impression here. The Les Bridge gelding has had two trials, winning them both after sweeping home from off the speed. He looks to have a good turn of foot and hasn't been particularly tested in either trial.
He was a $360,000 buy at the 2017 Easter Sales out of the multiple Listed winner Madame Pedrille (Secret Savings {USA}), who is the half-sister to G1 winner Diamond Drille and stakes-winner M'lady Pedrille. That family also includes Mamzelle Pedrille, the dam of O'Lonhro, as well as Countess Pedrille, the granddam of Yarraman Park's superstar stallion I Am Invincible.
Go for Gold as a yearling
