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.
At Nowra today, we focus on a maiden with a Group 1 pedigree and a filly on debut whose dam was a precious stakes winner while at Sale we like the first-up chances of a promising filly.
Nowra Race 1, 1.25pm, Noah & Jade Got Hitched Maiden, $22,000, 1400m
Vermont (Exceed And Excel) is a half-brother to the G1 Galaxy H. winner Snitzerland (Snippets), his multiple stakes winning brother Snippetson and to the dual Group 2 winner Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}). Their dam is Snowdrift (Fr) (Polish Precedent {USA}), who is a half-sister to the black type winners Snow Alert (Red Ransom {USA}) and Fidelio’s Miracle (USA) (Mountain Cat {USA}). It is the family of the G1 Prix Morny winner and sire Myboycharlie (Ire) and, closer to home, the G3 Taranaki Breeders’ S. winner Francaletta (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Vermont was a $225,000 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale graduate and the chestnut made an encouraging start with two trial successes. He hasn’t flattered in a couple of race day outings, but the key to a turnaround in form might be the step up to 1400 metres against modest opposition.
Vermont as a yearling
Nowra Race 6, 4.30pm, NKL Financial Planning Maiden, $22,000, 1000m
This event features the much anticipated debut of Miss Amelia (More Than Ready {USA}), who will start at cramped odds, but on the evidence of her trial performances a first-up victory is anticipated. The Bjorn Baker-trained filly has won all three of her matinee outings and she now looks set to carry that form over to race day.
Miss Amelia is a daughter of Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice), who won both of her 2-year-old starts by wide margins, including the G2 Silver Slipper S. before injury forced her pre-mature retirement. All four of her foals to race have been successful with Better Land (Shamardal {USA}) also stakes placed. Miss Amelia’s second dam is the Listed Doomben Slipper winner Shalt Not (St Covet) and the family features this season’s G2 Reisling S. placegetter Vincere Volare (I Am Invincible) so there is plenty of juvenile form within the pedigree.
More Than Ready
Sale Race 6, 3.25pm, Bennett Electrical H., $35,000, 1200m
Snitz And The City (Snitzel) is the first foal of the multiple winner Manhattan Mam (Dehere {USA}), who is a half-sister to the G1 Turnbull S. winner December Draw (Ire) (Medecis {GB}). Their dam New York (Ire) (Danzero) is a half-sister to the G2 Flying Childers S. winner Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}) and the family of G1 Prix de la Foret winner One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock) and his close relative Rivet (Fastnet Rock), who won the G1 Racing Post Trophy.
A $135,000 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale purchase, Snitz And The City was successful on debut on good going at Geelong in the spring for trainers Leon and Troy Corstens. She was put aside after running fifth at her only other appearance at Sandown where she struck a wet track. The filly has drawn an ideal gate to make a winning return.
Snitz And The City as a yearling
