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, we take in three 2-year-old races around Australia. We start at Rosehill, where Gerald Ryan has a Snitzel colt ready to fly on debut, then head to Brisbane, where a debutant filly by I Am Invincible looks to back up a recent trial win, before heading to the Clockwise Classic at Ballarat, for a Danny O'Brien first starter who looks very progressive.
Rosehill Race 1, Golden Gift, $150,000, 1100m, 12:35pm AEDT
Only five left in this race, but boy are there some wraps on a few of these. While Gary Portelli has been talking up Spaceboy (Deep Field), our focus is on the Snitzel colt Cardiff making his debut for Gerald Ryan. He smashed his rivals in his trial and looks a typical fast and forward Snitzel who is headed towards some big 2-year-old races this season.
Originally a $460,000 weanling buy, he was then sold for $600,000 at this year's Easter Yearling Sale. There are some significant names in his ownership, including Aquis, whose colours he runs in. He is out of Cariad (Sequalo), a multiple Listed winner who has already produced two winners.
Cardiff as a yearling
Doomben Race 1, Stav, Abby and Matt QTIS 2-year-old Hcp, $75,000, 1200m, 1:22pm AEDT (12:22pm AEST)
A big 2-year-old field kicks things off in Brisbane but Vincere Volare (I Am Invincible) looks to have plenty of talent based on her trial win at this track earlier this week. She was far from knocked about there, leading early before being headed briefly and kicking back.
She was a $300,000 buy for Aquis and her trainer Tony Gollan at this year's Easter Sales and is out of stakes-placed Elimbari (Fastnet Rock), who has already produced stakes-placed 2-year-old Conscious as well as a couple of other winners. Elimbari is out of multiple Listed winner Shalt Not, making her a half-sister to talented juvenile Amelia's Dream, who won the G2 Silver Slipper S.
Vincere Volare as a yearling
Ballarat Race 4, Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic, $200,000, 1000m, 2:05pm AEDT
It’s a race full of 2-year-olds with plenty of hype, but the push for Absolute Flirt (Stratum) has been particularly strong off her impressive recent trial win. She's not big, but she's got pace to burn and on that occasion, she jumped in front, sat wide and proved too good.
A $100,000 buy for trainer Danny O'Brien, who put together an all-female syndicate for her, Absolute Flirt is out of the Northern Meteor mare Bisutti, who is a half-sister to the talented but ill-fated Pressing. The family also includes the likes of Choice Bro, Cargo Cult and Immortality.
Absolute Flirt as a yearling
