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 ANZAC Day, we head to Randwick, where there are a couple of 2-year-old races worth checking in on, before going to the Listed Anzac Day S. at Flemington.
Randwick Race 2, 1:20pm AEST, Armistace Plate, $60,000, 1200m
There are some very well-bred fillies here, including three by Redoute's Choice and three by Snitzel, but it is California Zimbol, a daughter of I Am Invincible, who takes our eye. She was bought for $450,000 at last year's Easter Yearling Sale by Asian Bloodstock Services before being sent to the Snowden stable, where she has looked good, winning a trial by 2.3l last week.
She is bred to be fast being out of Zimaretta (Anabaa {USA}), who has already produced Cruden Bay (Not A Single Doubt), who won his first two starts as a 2-year-old including a Listed race at Moonee Valley and his full sister From Within, a winner of the Listed Alinghi S. last spring. The wide barrier here is some concern, but she looks to have the class to overcome that.
California Zimbol as a yearling
Randwick Race 3, 1:55pm AEDT, Battle of Amiens Plate, $60,000, 1200m
It’s worth noting that The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice) won the equivalent race on debut last year and there are four horses on debut here. Among them is Reloaded, a son of Snitzel who has been competitive in a couple of recent barrier trials and hails from the Chris Waller yard.
He was a $350,000 buy for Mulcaster Bloodstock at last year's Magic Millions out of the G1 VRC Oaks winning mare Hollow Bullet (Tayasu Tsuyoshi {Jpn}). She is yet to produce a stakes winner, but four of her five foals to the track have been winners, including this colt's full brother Sizzling Bullet, who has won on three occasions. Beyond the dam, it’s a good black-type family featuring the likes of Last Bullet (High Chaparral {Ire}), Red Hot Mama (General Nediym) and Mama's Choice (Redoute's Choice).
Reloaded as a yearling
Flemington Race 3, 2:10pm AEDT, Listed Anzac Day S. $140,000, 1400m
This too has proven an excellent race of late with Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) winning it two years ago. Much of the attention will be on Super Seth (Dundeel {NZ}), but the filly Fascino (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) also warrants attention. She debuted recently with a third at Ballarat for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and looks like she will appreciate the rise to 1400m.
She was a $400,000 buy out of the 2018 NZB Yearling Sale out of Karaka, being out of a multiple Group-winning mare in Lady Kipling (NZ) (Savabeel). She in turn is out of a stakes-placed mare in Akela (NZ) (Al Akbar), who has also produced the handy Lady Chapel (NZ) (King's Chapel).
Fascino as a yearling
