Looking Ahead - April 17

3 min read

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 have found a couple of lightly-tried youngsters at Warwick Farm with pedigrees to suggest they can make impressions while at Geelong we focus on a 3-year-old with a Group 1 background on debut.

Warwick Farm Race 1, 12.50pm, Harry Angel new to Darley Plate, $50,000, 1300m

Bred and raced by Gooree Stud, Scepter Of Power (Redoute’s Choice) is a son of the Listed Triscay S. winner Kiss From a Rose (Encosta de Lago). It is a rich pedigree with the dam a half-sister to the G2 Todman S. winner and G1 Golden Rose S. runner-up Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock). Kiss From a Rose is also a three-quarter sister to the ill-fated G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Northern Meteor.

Scepter Of Power is trained by Kris Lees and finished a close fourth on debut during the winter before he was turned out. The gelding has had two trial outings ahead of his return, finishing fourth at Gosford in March and earlier this month was runner-up on his home track at Newcastle. He’s drawn an inside gate and appeals as a strong chance.

Redoute's Choice, sire of Scepter Of Power

Warwick Farm Race 2, 1.25pm, Justify @ Coolmore H., $50,000, 1300m

Bacchus (Pierro) was a trial winner before he ran fifth first time out behind the subsequent G3 Black Opal S. winner Pin Sec (Lonhro) and was then spelled. The colt had a quiet trial before finishing unplaced on his return on a heavy track. An improved surface should see him a lot more competitive at a decent price.

The 2-year-old is a son of the G3 Sweet Embrace S. winner Jade Marauder (Fastnet Rock), who is a half-sister to the G3 WATC Sires’ Produce S. winner Bliss Street (Flying Spur) and their dam Jade Diva (Jade Robbery {USA}) was also a juvenile stakes winner so there’s plenty in the up-front pedigree to suggest Bacchus can continue a family trend.

Pierro, sire of Bacchus

Geelong Race 4, 2.10pm, Hyland Race Colours Maiden, $35,000, 1700m

A $240,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Censored (All Too Hard) is out of the Listed Morphettville Guineas winner and G1 Queensland Oaks runner-up Becerra (Al Maher). She is out of a sister to the dual Group 1 winner Episode (Scenic {Ire}), who is the dam of the G1 Flight S. winner First Seal (Fastnet Rock).

Censored is prepared by Tony McEvoy and with plenty of Group 1 staying blood in the family he might be worth taking a first-up punt on over 1700 metres. He hasn’t been sighted at the trials, but is sure to have done plenty of work and the stable has a handy strike rate with their fresh runners.

Censored as a yearling