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 have sorted out a couple of decent prospects at Hawkesbury and a pair of chances at the Bendigo fixture.
Hawkesbury JSJ Roofing Maiden $35,000 1600 metres 2.55pm
Ausfighter (Fighting Sun) turned in the best performance of his fledgling career last time out when he finished fourth over 1400 metres. He is showing steady improvement and the step up to a mile here might just bring out the best in the 3-year-old.
A half-brother to four winners, Ausfighter is a son of the Redoute’s Choice mare Ausvall, who won on two occasions and she is a half-sister to the six-time Group 1 winner Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) and her multiple stakes-winning brother Red Element. They are out of Tracy’s Element (Last Tycoon {IRE}), herself a winner four times in South Africa at the highest level.
Ausfighter as a yearling
Hawkesbury Friend Civil H $35,000 1100 metres 4.10pm
Sylvia’s Mother (Snitzel) is out of Found The One (Bel Esprit), the winner of three races, and she is a sister to the G1 Robert Sangster S. winner Bel Mer who also finished runner-up in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. Their dam Drop Anchor (At Talaq {USA}) was also successful at black-type level in the Listed Sandown Park S.
Trained by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, Sylvia’s Mother has wasted little time opening her winning account. She struck over this course and distance in August following a debut third and she has indicated her readiness to resume with a trial win earlier this month.
Snitzel
Bendigo Caravan Centre Maiden Plate $26,000 1000 metres 1.15pm
Hackeress (Uncle Mo {USA}) will make her first appearance here and she is out of a half-sister to the Listed winner and G1 BTC placegetter Latin News (Hussonet {USA}). The presence in the pedigree of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Marauding (Sir Tristram {IRE}) is another tick for the filly.
From the leading Caulfield yard of Mick Price, Hackeress hasn’t trialed and will be ridden by Michael Walker, who will don the colours of Yulong.
Uncle Mo
Bendigo No Fuss Event Hire Maiden $26,000 1100 metres 1.50pm
The well-named Olive (All Too Hard) is a daughter of Kalamata (Desert Prince {IRE}), the winner of six races and placed at Group 1 level in the Mudgway Partsworld S. She is a half-sister to Stirling Grove (Mossman), who won the G3 SAJC Sires’ Produce S. Their mother was unraced but produced the dam of the G1 Emirates S. winner Hucklebuck (Elvstroem).
Olive finished runner-up first time out in the spring behind subsequent G3 Roses S. winner Bleu Roche (Fastnet Rock) and following a miss at Flemington she was third at Pakenham. She has the outside gate to overcome, but with some luck in running she can again be a player for trainer Michael Kent and rider Beau Mertens.
All Too Hard
