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 two interesting runners at Gunnedah with the focus on a couple of lightly-tried maiden runners and a well-bred filly making her first appearance.
Gunnedah Cool Blue Ice Maiden $22,000 1300 metres 3.05pm
Debutante Normality (Animal Kingdom {USA}) has had a couple of recent trials and looked sharp when winning the latest of them at Scone. She is trained by Paul Messara and with Rachel King in the saddle they bear serious consideration.
Seven foals from this filly’s dam Synaesthesia (USA) (Quiet American {USA}) have been successful and includes Mentality (Flying Spur), a three-time winner at Group 1 level of the George Main S., Randwick Guineas and the Champagne S. Synaesthesia comes from a potent North American family and is a half-sister to the G1 Saratoga Test S. winner Fara’s Team (USA) (Tunerup {USA}), who produced the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic S. winner Concern (Broad Brush {USA}).
Animal Kingdom
Gunnedah Aussie Helpers Maiden $22,000 1600 metres 3.40pm
Chance Of Rain (Related) has each-way prospects in this and should be suited to the step up to 1600 metres. The filly has finished in behind the dividend payers in each of her last three starts and wouldn’t need to improve much to be a major player.
She is a daughter of the Lonhro mare Holly Mist, who was unraced and is a half-sister to the G2 New Zealand Cup winner Torlesse (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and to the dam of the Listed Southland Guineas winner Replique (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). Chance Of Rain's second dam Seamist (Beaufort Sea {USA}) was a fine race mare and her career highlight was victory in the G1 New Zealand S.
