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 taking you to Goulburn where we’ve sorted out a couple of likely maiden contenders while at Seymour we like the chances of a lightly-raced 4-year-old.
Goulburn Tab.com.au Maiden $22,000 1200 metres 3.05pm
Pindus (Exceed And Excel) will be at short odds, but he appeals as an anchor for multiples after strong showings to date. The James Cummings-trained 3-year-old finished runner-up on debut last season behind Zousain (Zoustar), a subsequent Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter. This term he has two more runner-up finishes so victory would be thoroughly deserved.
A brother to the G2 Magic Night S. winner Calliope, Pindus is out of Melpomene (Elusive Quality {USA}) who was successful on three occasions and stakes placed. She is a daughter of the G1 VRC Oaks winner Bella Borghese (Belong To Me {USA}) and a half-sister to the G2 Furious S. winner Bound For Earth (Northern Meteor), also third in the G1 Flight S.
Exceed And Excel
Goulburn Harvest 3YO Maiden $22,000 1300 metres 4.15pm
Beaufort Park (Warhead) comes from a strong female family and is out of Warlady (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who is a half-sister to the Karaka Million winner Sister Havana (General Nediym) and the multiple Hong Kong winner and stakes performer Tchaikovsky (Snippets). Headline acts in the pedigree include G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Overreach (Exceed And Excel) and the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner and sire Reward For Effort (Exceed And Excel).
In the successful Sydney stable of Gerald Ryan, Beaufort Park returned an encouraging trial at Rosehill where he finished runner-up. He was ridden by James Innes Jnr, who has retained the ride and may offer some value in an open affair.
Seymour Murray Credit Union Maiden $26,000 1200 metres 2.30pm
Archie Alexander’s Rocky Road (Magnus) ran well in his first preparation and was a solid third at his first appearance at Warrnambool and progressed to finish runner-up at Echuca. He was then spelled and his trainer has a decent strike rate with his first-up runners so a bold bid is expected from the 4-year-old.
Rocky Road is out of the five-time winner Belleza Veloz (Hemingway {IRE}), who was also a Listed placegetter, and she is a half-sister to the Listed Lord S. winner Just Look (Fraar {USA}), also placed in the G2 Blamey S. This family also boasts a number of stakes performers in Europe and North America, including the G2 Prix de Deauville winner Glenorum (CAN) (Prove Out {USA}).
Magnus
