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 will aim to give you something to follow.
On Sunday, two 3-year-old geldings by internationally revered stallions in Deep Impact (Jpn) and Frankel (GB) will step out, while a speedy Mikki Isle (Jpn) filly debuts in a 900-metre dash at Hobart.
Canberra, Race 2, 2.20pm AEDT, Gibley Gardening Plate, 2000m
Zoomurudi, 3-year-old gelding (Deep Impact (Jpn) x Zumoorooda {Encosta De Lago})
Bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Deep Impact gelding Zoomurudi will have his second start for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after they purchased him from the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $260,000. He ran second at Goulburn two weeks ago.
Zoomurudi is from the Encosta De Lago mare Zumoorooda, who is a three-quarter sister to Niagara. Third dam Twyla (Danehill {USA}) is a three-quarter sister to the late Redoute’s Choice.
Zoomurudi as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Geelong, Race 1, 1.30pm AEDT, Mdn Plate, 1225m
Great Week, 3-year-old gelding (Frankel (GB) x Zaina Rizeena {Sharmadal {USA}})
After passing in at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale Round 2, Southern Hemisphere-born Frankel (GB) gelding Great Week will debut for breeder Yulong Investments and trainer Mike Moroney.
From Shamardal (USA) mare Zaina Rizeena (GB), his second dam is the multiple stakes-winning mare Sweet Lily (Ire) (Tobougg {Ire}).
Great Week as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Hobart, Race 1, 1.05pm AEDT, 2YO Mdn, 900m
Ella Exceeds, 2-year-old filly (Mikki Isle (Jpn) x Eccellere {Exceed And Excel})
Mikki Isle (Jpn) filly Ella Exceeds has the right damsire for a speedy 2-year-old event, being from Exceed And Excel mare Eccellere. A four-time winner, Eccellere won an 1100 metre metropolitan event. Third dam Nimphidia (Nijinsky {Can}) was Group-placed and is from a prolific stakes-winning family.
Not offered for sale at auction, Ella Exceeds was bred by Armidale Stud. She ran second in a six-horse trial over 800 metres and is on debut in this event.
Looking Back
From our selections, Petulant (Starspangledbanner) and Persevere (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) did not race as the Kembla Grange meeting was called off.
The Tony Gollan-trained Saweetie (I Am Invincible) led all the way before finishing a very close third at Doomben.
