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 well-related first-starters at the Hawkesbury meeting while at Ladbrokes Park we also like the chances of a debut runner for Michael Moroney.
Hawkesbury Race 1, 1.20pm, Iron Jack Maiden, $50,000, 1000m
Speed is evident in the pedigree of Great Affair (Choisir), who makes his debut here off the back of three trials. He was a winner of a 900 metre heat at Rosehill prior to Christmas and the Hawkes stable invariably has their runners ready to excel when produced first-up.
The 3-year-old is out of Berning Affair (Bernardini {USA}) and she is a sister to the dam of the champion Australian and European sprinter and sire Starspangledbanner. It’s also the family of the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Amicus (Fastnet Rock) and Marcado (Choisir), winner at two of the Talindert S. and placed in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S.
Great Affair as a yearling
Hawkesbury Race 3, 2.30pm, Robert Oatley Wines Maiden, $50,000, 1300m
Persan (Pierro) is a son of the G1 Coolmore Classic and G3 Liverpool City Cup winner Ofcourseican (Mossman), whose three foals to race have all been successful. She boasts an international pedigree and is a half-sister to the G1 Kenilworth Queen’s Plate winner Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready {USA}), while closer to home the family also features the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Gregers (Commands) and the G3 How Now S. winner Girl Guide (Churchill Downs).
Prepared by David Payne, Persan has been given three trial outings and in the latest of them at Rosehill earlier this month he finished a tidy second over 1030 metres. He’s drawn the ace and will be partnered by Group 1 winning jockey Christian Reith.
Persan as a yearling
Ladbrokes Park Race 3, 4.30pm, Blue Star Print Maiden, $50,000, 1300m
Walking Flying (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) is a daughter of the former top race mare Veloce Bella (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}). She won 12 races, including the G1 Waikato International S. and also four times at Group 2 level. Both of her foals to race have been successful and she is from the family of the Listed Clifford Plate winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Tiger Jones (Ruling {USA}) .
To be ridden on debut by Craig Williams, Walking Flying hasn’t been seen at the trials with Lindsay Park’s training establishment providing everything required to have this filly ready to make a serious impact.
Walking Flying as a yearling
