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 zero in on a pair of 3-year-olds at Gosford with each boasting strong pedigrees and race form while at Geelong a resuming son of a Group winner has caught our eye.
Gosford Signarama Erina/Gosford Maiden $40,000 1200 metres 2.00pm
Lifetime Quest (Exceed And Excel) is a half-brother to four winners, including the stakes performers Zutara (Encosta de Lago) and Best of The Rest (Northern Meteor). Their mother Matras (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) won the G3 Tesio S. and she is a daughter of the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. winner Tropical Affair (Danehill {USA}). Matras is a half-sister to the G1 VRC Derby and G1 Champagne S. winner Prized Icon (More Than Ready {USA}) and his G3 Sweet Embrace S. winning sister Romantic Moon. Group 2 winners Kabayan (Haradasun) and Salade (Snitzel) are also family members.
Trained by Kris Lees for Gooree Stud, Lifetime Quest came off the back of three trials for his first race day appearance and made a good fist of it when second at Scone. He meets a competitive maiden line-up, but will have the benefit of a handy gate and the experienced Kerrin McEvoy to plot a winning path.
Exceed And Excel
Gosford Tooheys 3YO Maiden $40,000 1600 metres 2.35pm
Alier (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) is from a well-performed Waikato Stud family and is a brother to the multiple winner and Group 2 placegetter Tiptronic (NZ). Their dam Tiptoes (NZ) (Pins) is a sister to the G1 Kelt Capital S. and G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Legs (NZ) and a half-sister to the G1 WATC Derby winner Guyno (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). The pedigree page also features the presence of the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and the G2 Villiers S. and G2 Queen of the Turf S. winner Arletty (NZ) (Centaine).
Raced by Garry Chittick with Max Whitby and Neil Werrett, Alier was fourth when resuming for Chris Waller two runs back and followed that up with a course and distance third. He should strip at the peak of fitness here and looks sure to take some holding out.
Alier as a yearling
Geelong Hyland Race Colours Maiden $23,000 1100 metres 1.35pm
Tony Noonan had good reason to purchase Pirelli (Sebring) for $150,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale having trained his mother Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice) to win the G2 QTC Cup. She is out of the G3 Research S. winner Mica’s Pride (Bite The Bullet {USA}), who has been a wonderful producer as the dam of the four-time Group 1 winner Criterion (Sebring) and the G1 Doomben Cup winner Comin’Through (Fastnet Rock).
Pirelli has been taken along quietly by Noonan with two placings from four appearances and was spelled after finishing runner-up at Bendigo back in April. He has had a quiet trial since returning to work and has drawn well enough to run right up to his rich pedigree.
Pirelli as a yearling
