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 concentrate our efforts on the Kembla Grange meeting where we like the chances of a resuming juvenile and a couple of lightly-raced 3-year-olds poised to shed their novice tags.
Kembla Grange, Race 1, 1.05pm AEST, Peter Poulton Maiden, $31,500, 1000m
Anders (Not A Single Doubt) was a $670,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy and is a half-brother to the winner and Listed Gosford Guineas runner-up Battleground (Snitzel). Their dam Madame Andree (War Emblem {USA}) was unraced and is from the well-performed North American family of the G1 Belmont Metropolitan H. winner Exciting Story (USA) (Diablo {USA}).
Anders as a yearling
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Anders has experience on his side having placed in his first campaign when he raced in competitive company. He has returned from a break and a trial win at Warwick Farm earlier this month showed he can open his autumn campaign in perfect style.
Kembla Grange, Race 2, 1.40pm AEST, Search For A Cure Maiden, $31,500, 1400m
The Chris Waller-prepared So Charming (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) comes here off a debut second at Newcastle where she was beaten by Madam Legend (I Am Invincible), who has since won a BM64 as well so the form is strong.
Charm Spirit (Ire) sire of So Charming (NZ) | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
So Charming is a half-sister to five winners and is out of So There (Kaapstad {NZ}), who is an unraced half-sister to former champion 2-year-old and dual Group 1 winner Keeninsky (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) and the stakes-winner Cosmic Cube (NZ) (Dehere {USA}). They are out of the G2 Surround S. winner So Keen (NZ) (Jade Hunter {NZ}).
Kembla Grange, Race 6, 4.10pm AEST, Support Our Paramedics, $31,500, 1600m
Sun Moon Sky (Lonhro) went into his debut performance at Wyong off a couple of handy trials and the 3-year-old gave a decent account for trainer John Thompson when he finished a close fifth. He’ll surely be sharper for that outing and should be ideally-suited to this distance.
Lonhro sire of Sun Moon Sky | Standing at Darley
His dam Testama (Fr) (Testa Rossa) was a stakes winner and a Group 3 placegetter in France and she has so far produced three winners. Sun Moon Sky, whose second dam was also a black type winner, has an awkward draw, but with a dash of luck the $62,500 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale buy can provide each way value.
