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 of a pair of last-start winners stepping out at Moonee Valley while at Albury a well-bred juvenile will interestingly take on older opposition in his first race day appearance.
Moonee Valley Race 2, 7.00pm, Sun Stud Valley Pearl, $140,000, 1200m
Treaty Of Seville (Shooting To Win) is a half-brother to the multiple winner and stakes performer American Genius (All American) and their dam Gibraltar Moon (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) was sharp enough to win four times as a 2-year-old. She is out of a three-quarter sister to the dam of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Polar Success (Success Express {USA}) and a half-sister to the Listed Let’s Elope S. winner and G1 Turnbull S. placegetter Ain’t Seen Nothin (Nothin’ Leica Dane). She in turn has left the stakes winners Bachman (All American), Stepitup (Hussonet {USA}) and Ain’tnofallenstar (Starcraft {NZ}).
Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Treaty Of Seville was a $180,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale purchase and provided an early return on his investment with a hollow win on debut at Cranbourne. The colt has drawn a handy gate and he appeals as a strong chance to retain his unbeaten record.
Treaty Of Seville as a yearling
Moonee Valley Race 3, 7.30pm, Schneider Electric H., $75,000, 1200m
The Team Hawkes-prepared Testifier (Star Witness) looks set to make his mark in a higher grade and this race looks another ideal stepping stone for him. The chestnut was a first-up winner at Kyneton and then followed up with a Benchmark 64 success at the Valley. Dwayne Dunn will ride the 3-year-old again, who can again put away his older and more experienced rivals.
A $310,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Testifier is the only foal to race for My Dear Friend (General Nediym), who ended her career with 11 successes to her credit. She is a half-sister to the G1 Greyville Premier’s Champion S. winner Harry’s Son (Haradasun). Ruby Clipper (Rubiton) and Seventh Rock (Rock Of Gibraltar) are other South African Group 1 winners to feature in the pedigree.
Testifier as a yearling
Albury Race 1, 1.10pm, Wilson Transformer Maiden, $30,000, 1175m
Sacramento (Pierro) is a son of the G3 Vanity S. and Listed Ethereal S. winner Alzora (Redoute’s Choice) and she’s out of a half-sister to the dam of the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. winner Te Akau Coup (NZ) (Thorn Park) and the Listed Wellesley S. winner Don Garcia (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), who was a NZ $1.05 million Karaka yearling. Alzora is a grand-daughter of the winner and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Bineyah (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}).
Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Sacramento was purchased at the Inglis Premier Melbourne Sale for $160,000 and has had a couple of trials, finishing runner-up at Canterbury in his latest. The trainers are taking the unusual step of starting the 2-year-old against older opposition, a move that suggests they have confidence in the youngster.
Sacramento as a yearling
