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 Sunday, a close relative to a Golden Slipper winner debuts at Taree, a Jason Warren gelding backed to win the Caulfield Guineas kicks things off at Cranbourne, while a pricey Zoustar colt looks to break his maiden at the Sunshine Coast.
Taree Race 1, 12:35pm AEST, Manning River Times 3YO Maiden Showcase, $20,000, 1000m
Kris Lees gives a debut to the Judi Wanless-homebred Sending Love (Snitzel) off a good trial at Newcastle last month when she was second, making significant improvement from her first trial.
Snitzel, sire of Sending Love | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Her dam, Returntosender (Elusive City {USA}) was a winner of the G2 Queen Of The South S. and has produced the New Zealand winner Romantic Maid (High Chaparral {Ire}). Returntosender is also out of a sister to the Group 1 winning mare Response (Charge Forward), making Sending Love a very close relative to the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Estijaab (Snitzel).
Cranbourne Race 1, 12:40pm AEST, Donna Barfoot Mdn, $35,000, 1000m
Grinzinger Allee (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was the subject a significant long-priced move to win the G1 Caulfield Guineas during the week, backed from $201 to $51 off the back of a Mornington jumpout, where he worked home very nicely to finish fourth.
Reliable Man, sire of Grinzinger Allee | Standing at Westbury Stud
He boasts the breeding to back that reputation up being out of Group 1 winner Artistic (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who has already produced a stakes-placegetter in this gelding's full brother Grinzinger Star (NZ), who races in the same interests. Artistic if a half-sister to another Group 1 winner in Excellerator (Marscay).
Sunshine Coast Race 5, 3:20pm AEST, IFYS QTIS 3YO Maiden, $21,000, 1200m
Toby and Trent Edmunds step out a couple of very interesting 3-year-olds in this race in Grand Zou (Zoustar) and Pilote (Pierro). Grand Zou has the race experience on his side having stepped out when well-supported in a Kensington maiden back in March, where he failed to make an impact. Given a spell, he now looks to be back in good shape of a couple of recent impressive trials
Grand Zou as a yearling
He was a $380,000 buy for his trainers at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions, being out of Zarzuela (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), an unraced half sister to the Group 1 winner and now Blue Gum Farm stallion Glass Harmonium (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}). She has already produced three winners, including the stakes-placed Zarpoya (Sepoy).
