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, a 3-year-old with a speedy pedigree has caught our eye at Muswellbrook while we suggest two well-related youngsters at Moonee Valley that are worth following.
Musswellbrook Cup Tickets On Sale Now Maiden $22,000 1450 metres 1.43pm
More Than A Horse (More Than Ready) was a $380,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase by George Moore Bloodstock and is an older half-brother to the G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Vinicunca (I Am Invincible). He is a three-quarter brother to the G1 Champagne S. winner Carry On Cutie and the family of The Mission (Choisir), who also won a Champagne.
Trained by Team Hawkes, More Than A Horse was a Warwick Farm trial winner before he was unplaced on debut at Newcastle. He wasn’t too far off the winner and with that experience under his belt he could prove more competitive here.
More Than Ready
Moonee Valley Inglis Premier Yearling Sale H $50,000 1200 metres 6.30pm
Pelican (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) is a daughter of one of New Zealand’s finest race mares in Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who won seven Group 1 titles and finished fourth in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket. She has produced three winners, including the Group performer Divan (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and is a half-sister to the G1 Levin Classic winner Keepa Cruisin (NZ) (Keeper). It is also the family of the G2 Pago Pago S. winner and successful sire Yachtie.
A NZ$450,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale buy, Pelican showed an early return on that investment when she made a winning debut in November at Morphettville. She was then given a break by Lindsay Park and returned to run sixth in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude. The filly takes a significant step back in class here and has drawn an ideal gate to further her record.
Fastnet Rock
Moonee Valley Dynamic Print Group H $50,000 1200 metres 8.00pm
Columbus Circle (Street Boss {USA}) brings strong form lines with a victory at Caulfield at the first time of asking for trainer Nick Ryan and then finished third on this track in the Gold Carat. The chestnut has drawn ideally in gate three and will be the mount of Damien Oliver.
He is a gelded son of the unraced Perfect Fragment (Wanted), who is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}). There is also speed in the pedigree as their dam Purrfection (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) was a 2-year-old winner and ran third in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S.
Columbus Circle as a yearling
