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 a pair of Warwick Farm-bound 2-year-olds boasting impressive pedigrees while at Ladbrokes Park a filly with a strong international background is set to resume.
Warwick Farm Race 2 2.10pm Pluck @ Vinery H 1000 metres $50,000
Team Snowden’s Heart Breaker (I Am Invincible) presents for the first time and he has a cracking pedigree to back his claims on debut. The colt is out of Belle Couture (Redoute’s Choice), who was a winner and a half-sister to the unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and the multiple Group 1 winner All Too Hard (Casino Prince). She was sold to BC3 Thoroughbreds for $2.6 million at the Inglis Sydney Easter Broodmare Sale.
Heart Breaker failed to meet his $850,000 reserve at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale when passed in for $600,000. He has subsequently made two trial appearances and placed behind smart youngsters Tassort (Brazen Beau) at Rosehill and to Hightail (Written Tycoon) at Canterbury so is worth following.
Heart Breaker as a yearling
Warwick Farm Race 3 2.45pm ANZ Bloodstock Maiden 1000 metres $50,000
Evening Slippers (Snitzel) set the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale ring alight last year when she was knocked down for $1.8 million, not surprising given she is a sister to the G1 Galaxy winner Sweet Idea and to the dual Group 2 winner Showtime. Their dam is the Group performer Flidais (Timber Country {USA}).
The family is well known to Gai Waterhouse, who now trains with Adrian Bott. She prepared Sweet Idea and Flidais’ mother Electronic (MZ) (First Norman {USA}) to win the G1 Ranvet S. and the G1 The Metropolitan. Evening Slippers ran third first time out in the spring and following a break has returned to win both of her trials.
Evening Slippers as a yearling
Ladbrokes Park Race 6 5.50pm Polytrack H 1300 metres $50,000
The lightly-tried Zargos (Shamardal {USA}) showed promise last preparation with a success and a third placing in a competitive fillies’ race at Caulfield. She was spelled after finishing fifth in the Listed Twilight Glow so this looks a winnable first-up assignment.
The Lindsay Park-trained 3-year-old is out of Sister Rocks (USA) (Rock Hard Ten {USA}), a sister to the North American Group 2 winner and Group 1 performer Doubles Partner. The family also features Puissance De Lune (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}), who won twice at Group 2 level in Australia and was five times Group 1 placed before heading off to stud.
