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 put the circle around a pair of 2-year-olds with Group 1 pedigrees on duty at Warwick Farm and also a well-related Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old out to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Warwick Farm Race 1, 12.55pm, Rubick @ Coolmore Plate, $50,000, 1100m
Olympic (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) is from a gold medal family with an excess of elite level performers. His dam Ringhals (Street Cry {Ire}) is an unraced daughter of Black Mamba (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}), who was a black type performer at home before she won the G1 John Mabee H. as well as two Group 2 titles in North America. She is a half-sister to the dam of the G1 Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}). Other prominent family members include the G1 Australian Derby winner Levendi (Pierro), G1 Hong Kong Mile winner Glorious Days (NZ) (Hussonet {USA}) and G1 Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch {USA}).
A $280,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase, Olympic is prepared by Chris Waller and has the benefit of race experience on his side. The colt finished third on debut behind subsequent G3 Black Opal S. winner Pin Sec (Lonhro) on Boxing Day. He has since placed in a trial and James McDonald rides him.
Olympic as a yearling
Warwick Farm Race 2, 1.35pm, The Championships On Sale Plate, $50,000, 1100m
Apicius (Redoute’s Choice) will be the first foal of the winning Lonhro mare Vanilla Princess to race and the filly is a grand-daughter of the former top-notch mare Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago). She won four Group 1 races and placed a further eight times at that level and is also the dam of former champion Hong Kong Griffin Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice). Princess Coup is a three-quarter sister to the G2 Bill Stutt S. winner Sovereign Nation, also runner-up in the G1 Toorak H.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, this $300,000 Inglis Easter purchase has placed in both of her lead-up trials at Rosehill and Canterbury. As is customary for the stable’s runners, she looks sure to go forward and can give a bold sight on debut.
Redoute's Choice
Warwick Farm Race 3, 2.15pm, Star Turn @ Vinery H., $50,000, 1400m
A half-brother to the G1 Myer Classic winner Politeness (Street Sense {USA}), Green Aeon (Snitzel) is a son of the unraced Berengaria (Commands), who is a half-sister to the dual Group 2 winner Thackery (At Talaq {USA}) and the stakes winner Fairytales (Night Shift {USA}), the dam of the G2 Surround S. winner Parables (Lonhro).
Green Aeon was purchased by Willie Leung’s Magus Equine for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The gelding showed a return on that investment at the first time of asking when he produced a good kick off the front for a dominant win at Warwick Farm earlier this month. He was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, who takes the mount again.
Green Aeon as a yearling
