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 Friday, a trio of very well-bred runners take our attention. One is a 2-year-old colt on debut at Canberra who is a brother to a recent Group 2 winner, the second is out of a multiple stakes-producing mare and the third is a resuming 4-year-old whose two half-brothers are both successful stallions.
Canberra, Race 1, 1.27pm AEDT, Defence Pets Relocation Service H., $20,000, 1000m
Speak Now, 2-year-old colt (Star Witness x Taylor's Command {Commands})
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott present a couple of very interesting 2-year-olds in this race in Command Approved (Spirit Of Boom) and Speak Now (Star Witness). The former may have beaten the latter in a couple of trials, but it is Speak Now who arguably carries the more interesting pedigree, being a brother to G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Swift Witness.
Another sister, Terminology, has been stakes-placed while their dam, Taylor's Command (Commands) is a half-sister to Group 2 winner So Pristine (Zabeel {NZ}) as well as to Listed winner Restored (Red Ransom {USA}). This colt cost his trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds $280,000 through the Widden Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Speak Now as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Canterbury, Race 4, 7.30pm AEDT, Quayclean H., $50,000, 1100m
Pretty Amazing, 3-year-old filly (American Pharoah {USA} x Pretty Penny {Encosta De Lago})
This Chris Waller filly is the eighth foal from Pretty Penny to make the track and the previous seven have all been winners. In fact, four of them are stakes winners, Sertorius (Galileo {Ire}), Clifton Red (Sebring), Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau), while the three others have all been stakes-placed.
That is quite a family record to live up to and interestingly, she was retained by her breeder Dr Denis O'Brien under his Clairden Racing outfit. She hasn't shown a great deal in her trials to date, but she did pass a few in the run home last time, and may indeed be a filly that will need more ground in time.
Moonee Valley, Race 5, 8.15pm AEDT, Drummond Golf H., $60,000, 1000m
Rights Of Man, 4-year-old entire (Snitzel x Listen Here {Elusive Quality {USA}})
Rights Of Man has shown a degree of talent throughout his five-start career, but has not yet been able to add to the win he secured on debut a Kyneton earlier this year. He ran a good race when second first-up last time in, and then contested a stakes race at Flemington, where he was beaten less than 2l.
He was ridden very quietly in a recent jump-out at Flemington and made good late ground, suggesting he has returned in good order and could begin to live up to his imposing pedigree. Co-owned by China Horse Club and his breeder Cressfield, he is a half-brother to stallions Shooting To Win and Deep Field, with all three out of the Listed winner Listen Here, a daughter of Elusive Quality (USA).
Looking Back
Per Ivy (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was successful on her debut for Looking Ahead followers at Wyong on Thursday while Northern King (Pierro) was creditable on debut at Bendigo, finishing seventh.
