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.
On Tuesday, a couple of debutantes at the Bendigo meeting who have pedigrees to be proud of and we also like the chances of a sparingly-raced filly at Warwick, who looks ready to shed her maiden tag.
Bendigo Race 1, 1.30pm, Evergreen Turf Maiden, $35,000, 1000m
Addictions (Brazen Beau) is out of the stakes performer Balalaika (King Of Kings {Ire}), whose four foals to race have all been successful and includes the G2 Queensland Guineas winner and G1 Blue Diamond S. runner-up Jabali (Exceed And Excel). Balalaika is a half-sister to the South African black type winner Miss Scaramanga (Second Empire {Ire}). Their dam is the G2 Edward Manifold S. winner Love Of Mary (Zeditave) and she’s a sister to the mother of the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago).
A $110,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale buy, Addictions is prepared by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra and while she hasn’t trialled, she has a pedigree to give confidence. She drew a tricky gate but he cause has been made easier by defections.
Bendigo Race 2, 2.00pm, Medical Edge Maiden, $35,000, 1100m
A $200,000 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale purchase, Tack (Redoute’s Choice) is a brother to the winners and Group performers Regatta Rebel and Extra Olives. Their dam Line Honours (Hussonet {USA}) is a daughter of the former champion filly and four-time Group 1 winner Alinghi (Encosta de Lago) and the family of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Beneteau (Redoute’s Choice), who placed in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Trainer Robbie Griffiths has been patient with the filly and put her aside after a trial last autumn and again after she finished runner-up in an 800 metre heat at Cranbourne in the spring. To be ridden by Matthew Allen, this well-related 3-year-old can show she’s inherited a measure of the family ability.
Tack pictured as a yearling
Warwick Race 2, 1.45pm, Raheen Stud Maiden, $19,000, 1350m
Miraclesfromheaven (Easy Rocking) finished runner-up on debut at the Sunshine Coast and was then heavily backed at Ipswich where she finished fifth, and only two lengths off the winner, on a heavy track. She will have the benefit of an apprentice allowance here and in a capacity line-up she has the added luxury of an inside gate to work with.
The filly is a daughter of Paparazzi Blonde (Sequalo), and is a three-quarter sister to Bagman. He won 14 races, including four at Listed level and was a multiple Group placegetter in Sydney. A stand-out member of Miraclesfromheaven’s family is Flotilla (Dalmacia {NZ}), whose was a four-time Group 1 winner.
