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 take a closer look at couple of expensive yearling purchases making their first appearances on the Kensington track and a 3-year-old with an interesting pedigree on debut at Ladbrokes Park.
Kensington The Championships On Sale Plate $50,000 1100 metres
Come See (I Am Invincible) earned a high price tag at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when she was knocked down for $625,000. A half-sister to the promising multiple winner Ljungberg, their dam is the G3 Cockram S. and Listed Kevin Hayes S. winner Octavia (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Also featuring in this pedigree are the South African Group 1 winners Stellite (SA) (Fard {SA}) and Zirconeum (SA) (Jallad {SAF}) and the G1 Coolmore Classic runner-up Jersey Lily (Catbird).
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Come See will be on debut following two preparatory trials. She was close up behind the subsequent Group 3 winner Amercement (Lonhro) and had a quiet run for fifth in the second. From a good gate she will be ridden by Tommy Berry.
Come See as a yearling
Kensington TAB Rewards Plate $50,000 1100 metres
Trope (More Than Ready {USA}) is out of the stakes winner Personify (Galileo {Ire}) and all four of her foals to race have been successful, including the stakes performed siblings Laser Flash and Selectify. The dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}) and the G3 Wenona Girl Quality winner A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice) and her brother Time Thief, a Listed winner.
A $500,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase, Trope was a winner at the trials in January and Team Hawkes have the happy knack of out getting the best out of their first-up representatives and he looks a strong each way prospect.
Trope as a yearling
Ladbrokes Park Le Pine Funerals Plate $50,000 1400 metres 4.30pm
Little Phoenix (Fiorente {Ire}) comes from a fine female family and is a grandson of the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Shindig (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), who was also an outstanding producer. She is the dam of the G1 Orr S. winner Shinzig (Danehill {USA}), his dual stakes winning brother Strada and also the dam of the Group 3 winner Alfolk (Lonhro).
A $200,000 buy at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, Little Phoenix has been taken along quietly by champion trainer Chris Waller. He showed he had inherited a measure of the family ability when winning his only trial at Geelong last month. He has drawn ideally and Ben Melham will take the reins.
Fiorente
