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 expect a bold showing from a Snowden-trained youngster when he resumes at Randwick where an expensive yearling is also tipped to make a winning return. At Flemington, we look at the chances of a filly who steps up to black type company following a stylish first-up victory.
Randwick Pierro Plate $150,000 1100 metres 12.50pm
Jonah (Hinchinbrook) is a brother to the G3 Frances Tressady S. winner Flippant and a half-brother to the G2 Gilgai S. winner I’m Excited (Snitzel) with their dam Lady Beckworth (General Nediym). It is the Group 1 family of Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) and her sister Commanding Jewel. With that quality background, this colt didn’t come cheaply and was a $300,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase.
Racing in the China Horse Club colours, Jonah ran second on debut and was put aside after finishing third in the Golden Gift. He trialled well at Randwick earlier this month for Peter and Paul Snowden and from a handy gate he should give a bold sight.
Jonah as a yearling
Randwick Lunar New Year H $125,000 1300 metres 2.40pm
The return of the well-related Diplomatico (Snitzel) for Team Hawkes will be of major interest after an excellent spring preparation. The lightly-tried colt won the Listed Brian Crowley off the back of a maiden success and then finished eighth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. but less than six lengths off the winner. A winning return looks highly likely here.
Diplomatico’s mother Top Cuban (Anabaa {USA}) was a minor winner at two and has also produced the G3 BTC Classic winner Havanna (Starcraft {NZ}). The dam is a three-quarter sister to the G1 Gulfstream Park H. winner Slew City Slew (USA) (Seattle Slew (USA). With that sparkling pedigree, Diplomatico was bought by George Moore Bloodstock for $1.7 million at the Inglis Sydney Easter Sale.
Diplomatico as a yearling
Flemington Listed Talindert S $140,000 1100 metres 2.20pm
Talented (Snitzel) is out of Exceptionally (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}), who was a Listed VRC St Leger winner but her son looks to have inherited the speed qualities of the family. They include the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Burst (Marauding {NZ}), whose mother Sudden (Boucher {USA}) was successful in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview and ran third in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
A $500,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast buy for Yulong, Talented finished strongly at Geelong to post the perfect winning start to her career. This represents a major step up, but the ambitiously named filly looks a decent prospect and from a good draw she could provide some value.
