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 focus on a sister to a dual Group 1 winner at Moonee Valley and two other well-related fillies fronting up at the Kembla Grange meeting.
Moonee Valley Race 2, 7.00pm, DraftKings.com Plate, $60,000, 1000m
Valuable filly Sisstar (Zoustar) is a full blood relation to stablemate Sunlight, winner of the G1 Coolmore Stud Classic and the G1 Newmarket H. against the older horses. They are out of the multiple Group 3 winner Solar Charged (Charge Forward), who has also left the Group performer Sheikha (Sebring). The dam is a half-sister to the dual Listed winner Causeway Queen (Giant’s Causeway {Ire}).
A $600,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Sisstar won both of her trials for trainer Tony McEvoy before running fourth in the G3 Ottawa S. at Flemington in November. Another recent trial success has indicated her readiness to resume.
Sisstar as a yearling
Kembla Grange Race 1, 1.15pm, Jim Beam Maiden, $35,000, 1600m
The Gerald Ryan-trained Peace Of Mind (Bernardini {USA}) was a $220,000 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale buy for Sun Bloodstock and is a half-sister to the black type winner Baby Corn (Exceed And Excel). Their dam Sweet Corn (Scenic {Ire}) won seven times, including the G3 Matriarch S., and she is out of the stakes winner Corn Maizcay (Maizcay).
Peace Of Mind finished fifth following a debut third last preparation and after a break was placed at the trials. She resumed at Hawkesbury last month and ran a creditable third and with natural improvement she can be expected to produce another bold showing from a handy draw that further enhances her prospects.
Peace Of Mind as a yearling
Kembla Grange Race 8, 5.35pm, TAB Benchmark H., $35,000, 1600m
Tuesday Special (Snitzel) raced up to her impressive pedigree when the Bjorn Baker-trained filly made the perfect debut at Hawkesbury. The Strawberry Hill Stud-bred and owned 3-year-old raced close to the pace and finished off well to win over 1300 metres.
She is a daughter of the four-time Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}), who has a 100 per cent record at stud with all six of her foals to race successful. The dam is a half-sister to the G1 Australian Oaks winner Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}), who produced the champion mare More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}), the winner of eight Group 1 events.
