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 head to Wyong where a John Thompson import is looking to make an impression along with Chautauqua's little sister, while at Pakenham, Mick Kent has a promising filly resuming.
Wyong Race 2, Winning Appliances Maiden, $35,000, 1350m, 1.55pm AEDT
El Coyote (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) finished seventh in his Australian debut and has progressed to finish in the money in each of his last two appearances. There appears to be a sense of winning timing around the John Thompson-trained 4-year-old.
He is a half-brother to the Listed Wangoom H. winner Handsome Thief (IRE) (Shamardal {USA}) with their dam Insoumise (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) a 350,000 euros purchase by Waratah TB at the Arqana December Sale. She is a half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (GB) (Anabaa {USA}) and to the dam of the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {IRE}).
Oasis Dream
Wyong Race 3, Rinnai Maiden H. $35,000, 1100m, 2.35pm AEDT
Interest here will centre on the resumption of Mulberry Walk (More Than Ready {USA}), who is a half-sister to seven winners, including the enigmatic Chautauqua (Encosta de Lago), a six-time Group 1 winner. They are out of the dual top-flight winner Lovely Jubly (Lion Hunter), a half-sister to the G2 Highview Stud Trophy winner Sir Howard (Alannon).
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Mulberry Walk was unplaced in two outings during the winter, but she has trialled well ahead of her return, including a winning run at Canterbury earlier this month. Corey Brown rides the 4-year-old.
More Than Ready
Pakenham Race 1, Racing.com Mdn, $27,000, 1000m, 6pm AEDT
Olive (All Too Hard) returns to the track after having had a couple of runs in her first campaign. She ran into subsequent Group winner Bleu Roche (Fastnet Rock) first-up at Sale and was beaten just 0.75l. She then went down the Flemington straight, where she struggled and was sent out for a short break ahead of this. She looks progressive and won’t take long to break her maiden,
Olive was a $140,000 buy at the Ready2Race sale last year and is a half sister to Group winner Stirling Grove out of New Zealand stakes-winner Kalamata {Desert Prince {Ire)}, who herself is closely related to G1 winner Hucklebuck.
All Too Hard
