Looking Ahead - December 7

3 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.

Today, we focus on top prospects at Mornington and Moonee Valley and at Matamata in New Zealand.

Mornington Turn Key Hotel Maiden $23,000 1500 metres 2.10pm

Exceedingly Easy (All Too Hard) is knocking on the door following runner-up finishes at Geelong and at Cranbourne. She has been handled in both starts by Clayton Douglas and he will again take the ride for trainer Grahame Begg.

The 3-year-old is a half-sister to the winner and black type placegetter Exceeds (Snitzel) with their dam Exceedingly Happy (Exceed And Excel), who was twice successful, a half-sister to the G1 Epsom H. winner Rock Kingdom (Rock Of Gibraltar {IRE}) and the stakes performer Happy Glen (Happy Giggle). It is also the family of black type winners Snip Attack (General Nediym) and Kalaring (Kala Dancer {GB}).

All Too Hard

Moonee Valley Opus Group Plate $40,000 1000 metres 6.30pm

Oriental Lily (Hinchinbrook) was a $260,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase and is a daughter of Famous Lilly (USA) (Rahy {USA}), who hails from a well-performed international family. The dam is out of a sister to the G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Moon Queen (IRE) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), who has left the Australian-based stallion The Brothers War (USA) (War Front {USA}), and to the Irish stakes winner Rostropovich.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Oriental Lily has won her only trial at Cranbourne and will jump from an inside gate. Her fortunes will be guided by Ben Melham.

Oriental Lily as a yearling

Moonee Valley MSC Signs Plate $30,000 1200 metres 7.30pm

Sora (I Am Invincible) was a $90,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale buy and is a half-sister to three multiple winners. Their mother Sheza’s Dream (Filante) is from a sister to the G1 Japan Racing Association Classic winner Captain Moonlight (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}), who also ran third in the G1 New Zealand Derby. The dam is also a three-quarter sister to G1 VRC Oaks and G1 Thousand Guineas winner Richfield Lady (NZ).

Trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Sora enjoyed a quiet trial before she finished third on debut at Sandown. The winner of the race was My Pendant (NZ) (Pins), who last Saturday won again in a competitive fillies’ event.

Sora as a yearling

Matamata Hilda Tallot Maiden $10,000 1400 metres 12.37pm (NZ time)

A strong Waikato Stud family could be to the fore here with Golden Sun (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) a decent chance to open his winning account. He has finished sixth in both of his appearances and didn’t help his chances when slow to break on debut and last time out he was hemmed in all the way down the straight.

The 3-year-old is a son of the G2 Kewney S. winner Do Ra Mi (NZ) (Savabeel) and she is a half-sister to the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Marju Snip (NZ) (Marju {IRE}) and the Listed Hong Kong Derby Trial winner Unique Jewellery (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). Do Ra Mi is a grand-daughter of the dual Group 1 winner Candide (NZ) (Sound Reason {CAN}).