Looking Ahead - January 13

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, we head to Sale where a Mick Price filly takes the eye and a Henry Dwyer 3-year-old resumes, while at the Sunshine Coast, two colts by ill-fated sire Time For War make their debuts.

Sale Race 1, Laurels Function Centre 2YO Fillies Mdn, $35,000, 1005m, 12:20pm AEDT

Mick Price sends out Truth Serum (Not A Single Doubt) for her first start in a maiden with a bit of depth at Sale. Her only trial was when she was fifth back in September, but she has had two recent jumpouts, including one at Caulfield this month where she sat just off the pace before finishing off over the top of her rivals.

She was a $160,000 buy for Luke Wilkinson at last year's Magic Millions Sale, out of a half-sister to 2-year-old stakes-winner The Travelling Man (Mossman), a family that goes back to the very talented mare Glory Girl (Best Western).

Truth Serum as a yearling

Sale Race 3, Carlton Draught Maiden Plate, $35,000, 1205m, 1:30pm AEDT

Irish Butterfly (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) made his debut back in Swan Hill back in August and was beaten by subsequent stakes-placegetter Yulong January (King of Prussia). He returns here off a nice break having had a jumpout just before Christmas, where he had to be dug up at the start and then was given a fairly comfortable time of it in what was a bunched finish.

The trainer paid NZ$220,000 for this guy at the NZB Karaka Sale, out of the Listed winning mare Papilio (Redoute's Choice), who is a half to Group 3 winner Amaryllis (Red Ransom {USA}) and is out of Group 2 winner Lafleur (NZ) (Zabeel). Even further back is the champion European mare Habibti (GB) (Habitat {USA}), the half-sister to the legendary Eight Carat (GB).

Sunshine Coast Race 3, Love and Partners Accountants QTIS 2YO Mdn, $21,000, 1000m, 3:29pm AEDT

Kitchwin Hills stallion Time For War only had two crops before his untimely death, but has produced two-time winner Time To Reign in his first year. Shanahan is one of two by the sire to debut in this race (the other is Combat Kid). Chris Munce has given this colt plenty of pre-race experience with three trials, with his most recent appearance when he won at Doomben earlier this month. You’d expect him to be pretty forward for this.

His dam, Emerald Downs (Churchill Downs) was a city-winning 2-year-old who was a half-sister to Group 1 winner and stallion Turffontein (Johannesburg {USA}). It is also the family of stakes-winners Affable and Vergara.

Shanahan as a yearling