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’re interested in a well-bred first starter at Rosehill, a progressive 3-year-old at Flemington and a juvenile stepping out at the Gold Coast.
Rosehill Race 4, 4.55pm, Bowermans Office Pago Pago S., $175,000, 1200m
Famous (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) is the first foal of the two-time Group 3 winner A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice) and understandably attracted widespread attention as a youngster with James Harron signing for him at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $750,000. His dam is a half-sister to the five-time South African Group 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}) and a sister to the stakes winner and Group 1 performer Time Thief. It’s a rich pedigree that also includes the G2 Expressway S. winner and G1 Chipping Norton S. runner-up Centennial Park (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have set Famous a stiff first-up task in this, but the colt wouldn’t be there if they had any doubt he wasn’t up to making an impression. He won his most recent trial in fine style at Canterbury and has drawn well enough to show his quality.
Famous as a yearling
Flemington Race 2, 3.20pm, Autumn Trophy, $135,000, 1400m
Jumbo Ozaki (Unencumbered) faces the toughest test of his fledgling career, but he looks up to it after winning both of his starts with ease. Trainer Phillip Stokes’ Pakenham yard is in hot form and this 3-year-old looks a good bet to continue the stable roll.
This gelding is a son of Zattica (Commands) who is out of a half-sister to the G3 Canterbury Cup and Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup winner Estimable (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}) and a sister to the dam of the G1 Storm Queen S. and G1 Queensland Oaks winner Purple (Commands). It is also the family of the Group 1 winning brothers Gurner’s Lane (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and Sovereign Red (NZ).
Unencumbered
Gold Coast Race 7, 3.22pm, Aquis QTIS Jewel, $500,000, 1200m
A $320,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling March Sale purchase, Perudo (Spirit Of Boom) is a half-sister to three winners with their dam Goodlookin Gambler (Johannesburg {USA}) a half-sister to Scenic Peak (Scenic {Ire}), who won 12 races including the G1 Emirates S. in track record time. He also claimed two editions of the G3 Yalambee Stud S. and ran third in the G1 Doomben 10,000.
Perudo was a runaway debut winner at Toowoomba and then finished runner-up at Doomben to stablemate Niedorp (Not A Single Doubt), who runs in the G2 Magic Night S. at Rosehill so that is a decent form reference. Perudo has been ridden in both of her starts by Brad Stewart who will continue his association with the filly.
Perudo as a yearling
