Looking Ahead - January 6

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.

On Sunday, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have a couple of horses worth keeping an eye out for at Warrnambool, while a former Mick Price filly makes her debut for a new stable at Murwillumbah.

Warrnambool Race 1, Sungold Milk 3YO Mdn, $35,000, 1200m, 1:30pm AEDT

Mongolian Sword (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) makes his debut for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace having trailed well back at Cranbourne back in November and was then given a soft time in a recent jumpout at Sandown, when he landed on the pace before drifting out the back late.

It looks a staying family on pedigree, with the dam Barbara Ann (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) a winner over 2200m and a half-sister to Mac O'Reilly (NZ) (O'Reilly), a dual Group 1 winner over 2000m. However, the full brother Autumn Century was victorious on debut over 1200m at Singapore.

Mongolian Sword as a yearling

Murwillumbah Race 5, Pottsville Tavern Maiden, $22,000, 1200m, 3:50pm AEDT

Indibelle (Lonhro), a $250,000 yearling, had two starts for Mick Price in Victoria before being sold through a recent online sale for a modest $12,000. While she didn’t show a great deal in those two starts, the 3-year-old filly is expected to improve with racing.

She now finds herself with Bundall-based trainer Paula Campbell and got a myriad of gear changes in order to get her to perform first-up. Her dam Five Star Belle (General Nediym) was a four-time winner up to 1800m and is a half-sister to Group 1 winning filly Aragen (Rory's Jester).

Indibelle as a yearling

Warrnambool Race 7, Daly's IGA Koroit Cup, $45,000, 1700m, 4:55pm AEDT

Jerilderie Letter (Bushranger {IRE}) has failed to regain the form of his younger days since having 18 months off the scene, finishing well out of the money in four recent starts in Tasmania. However, he finds himself now with Maher and Eustace in what is an intriguing stable change.

He won six of his first seven career starts and was placed twice at Flemington as a 3-year-old, so has obvious ability and it will be interesting to see if he can get back near his best with one of Victoria's premier stables.