Looking Ahead - December 12

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 are focussing our attention on the meeting at Wyong where we have found a trio of well-related 3-year-olds we believe can race up to their pedigrees.

Wyong BJP Plastering H $35,000 1000 metres 1.35pm

Enjoy Elsie (Sepoy) is out of the One Cool Cat (IRE) mare Dawned (NZ), who is a half-sister to the G2 Emancipation S. winner and G1 Coolmore Classic runner-up Beat The Fade (Maroof {USA}) and the G3 Cuddle S. winner Dawn Till Dusk (NZ)Manntari {IRE}). Dawned is also a half-sibling to the dam of the former champion Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

Trained by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, Enjoy Elsie ran third at Hawkesbury on debut and was then given a break. The filly returned to win a trial at Rosehill last month before she broke her maiden over this course and distance. Tommy Berry will ride the 3-year-old and from the inside gate the expected short price should be well worth taking.

Sepoy

Wyong DNR Electrical Metro & Prov Plate $35,000 1600 metres 2.15pm

First-timer Commander’s Watch (Pierro) has an interesting pedigree and is a son of Southern Venture (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), a stakes performer who has produced five winners. She is out of Jaqwin (Bluebird {USA}), also the dam of the four-time Group 1 winner Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga). Jaqwin is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and producer Keeper (Danehill {USA}) and the family of the G3 Aurie’s Star H. winner Broken (Halo Homewrecker {USA}).

Trainer Gerald Ryan has been patient with Commander’s Watch, who has been trialled on several occasions. In his latest, the 3-year-old finished third at Rosehill and he will be handled at Wyong by Glyn Schofield.

Commander's Watch as a yearling

Wyong Magic Millions Gold Coast in January Mdn $35,000 1350 metres 2.50pm

Gremlin (NZ) (Savabeel) was a NZ$750,000 Karaka purchase for Godolphin and is from a potent New Zealand family. She is a daughter of the champion 2-year-old and G1 Diamond S. winner Banchee (NZ) (Oratorio {IRE}), who is out of the G3 Fayette Park S. winner Miss Jessie Jay (NZ) (Spectacularphantom {USA}). She has left the champion 3-year-old and dual Group 1 winner Katie Lee (NZ) (Pins). Two-time top-flight winning sprinter Gee I Jane (NZ) (Jahafil {GB}) is another decorated member of the family.

Trained by James Cummings, Gremlin was a placegetter at the trials before she made her first appearance at Randwick where she finished fourth under jockey Kerrin McEvoy. He will again partner the filly, who is sure to have benefitted from her first race day outing.

Savabeel