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 like the chances at Coffs Harbour of a well-bred daughter of a Group winner on debut and a half-sister to a former high quality mare while a filly with a rich pedigree at Echuca has caught our eye.
Coffs Harbour Coffs Cup 2YO H $22,000 1000 metres 1.15pm
Magic Palace (Spirit Of Boom) is a daughter of Laurinel Argie (Palace Music {USA}), who won 11 races including the G2 Prime Minister’s Cup and was a multiple black type placegetter. She is a sister to the former champion South African 2-year-old and two-time Group 1 winner Palace Line. It is also the family of the Singapore Gold Cup and Singapore Guineas winner Mr Line (Arg) (Llers Fitz {Arg}).
The Kris Lees-trained Magic Palace was a $200,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase and is a half-sister to the winner and G3 Adrian Knox S. runner-up Rustic Melody (Snitzel). The filly is on debut and finished second in her lead-up trial.
Magic Palace pictured as a yearling
Coffs Harbour Racing Dreams Maiden $22,000 1000 metres 1.50pm
Nicconi Lass (Nicconi) is a half-sister to the former top mare Hot Danish (Nothin’ Leica Dane), whose outstanding career featured victories in the G1 All-Aged S. and the G1 Doomben Ten Thousand. They are out of Hot ‘N’ Breezy (Zephyr Zip) successful four times, she has also produced the Listed Woodlands S. winner Manaya (Hinchinbrook).
Trained by John Shelton, Nicconi Lass has a lot to live up to and she’s made a bright enough start to her career. She was put aside after running fifth on debut early in the season and returned to finish runner-up on this course last month. Natural improvement and an ideal gate should see her right in the mix.
Echuca Newsagency Maiden $35,000 1600 metres 2.00pm
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Jesadeal (Dundeel {NZ}) is the first foal of Jesmond (Encosta de Lago), who was successful in two minor sprints, and is out of a sister to the stakes winner Terrace (NZ) (Zabeel NZ}). It is most notably the family of the former outstanding 2-year-old and G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Canny Lad (Bletchingly), who went on to a stellar stallion career, and his G1 William Reid winning sister Canny Lass. Another Slipper winner and leading sire Sepoy (Elusive Quality {USA}) features on the pedigree page.
Jesadeal has been patiently handled and made late ground to finish midfield when first produced at Pakenham last month. The step up to a mile seems sure to suit her and with an apprentice claim she could be a player at a price.
Jesadeal pictured as a yearling
