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 Thursday, we start off with a recent 2-year-ol trial winner at Wagga, check out a well-related debutant at Warrnambool, then head to Pakenham, where a colt bred to stay steps up to 1600m at his second start.
Wagga Wagga Race 1, Private Marquee On Cup Day 2YO Mdn, $22,000, 1000m, 12:50pm AEDT
Interesting 2-year-old race here with eight of these having met in a barrier trial at Canberra a couple of weeks' ago. The winner of that trial was Zelago (Delago Deluxe), who jumped well from out wide, sat outside the pace and proved far too speedy under a hold from Brendan Ward.
He was a cheap buy at $20,000 from last year's Classic Sale but hails from an interesting family. His dam Ze Choice (Redoute's Choice) is a three-quarter sister to stakes-winner Lucky Unicorn and Provence and is closely related to Group 1 winners Masked Party, Wandjina, Dracula and Complacent.
Delago Deluxe
Warrnambool Race 3, Northpoint Liquor Bottle-O Mdn, $23,000, 1000m, 3:20pm AEDT
Please Rise (Star Witness) makes his debut here for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace having been given plenty of time to develop. He was close up in a recent Cranbourne trial when given a pretty soft time and looks a horse ready to break his maiden.
He is also from a Redoute's Choice mare, in the unraced Modern Etiquette, who is a sister to stakes winner Tango's Rain and three-quarter sister to stakes-placed Tango Rain (Manhattan Rain).
Please Rise as a yearling
Pakenham Race 3, Delarue Tyres Sprint 3YO Mdn, $35,000, 1600m, 7:00pm AEDT
Hadeer (Savabeel) steps out for his second start having held his ground when fifth in a much stronger 1300m maiden at Sandown last time out. On pedigree, he’ll appreciate the step up to 1600m here.
A $620,000 Easter yearling, he is a half-brother to Kingdoms (High Chaparral {Ire}), who was placed in a G1 AJC Derby and won a Listed race over 2400m and a three-quarter sister to Do Ra Mi, a G2 Kewney S. winner. The dam, A Real Princess {NZ} (O'Reilly {NZ}) is a half sister to G1 Australasian Oaks winner Marju Snip, a family which harks back to multiple NZ Oaks winner Candide {NZ}).
Hadeer as a yearling
