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.
Friday, we pay attention to an Ipswich maiden that’s a half-brother to Delago Deluxe (Encosta De Lago), a daughter of the Group performer Champagne Cath (Street Sense {USA}) at Kensington, plus a full sister to the Hong Kong Champion Lucky Bubbles (Sebring).
Kensington, Race 1, 2.55pm AEDT, Schweppes H., $50,000, 1400m
Pink Ivory (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Redwood {GB}) x Lotteria {Redoute’s Choice})
This unraced filly for trainer John Sargent is owned by Gerry Harvey, and she’s a daughter of the multiple stakes-winning mare Lotteria (Redoute’s Choice). Lotteria won the G1 Flight S. and G1 Myer Classic in a standout career that totalled five Group wins.
Pink Ivory has been a late bloomer, with three trials this preparation before getting to this race. She’s in good company but has drawn the inside gate with Josh Parr, and she’s got a 2kg pull in the weights on the more fancied horses in this field.
Kensington, Race 2, 3.30pm AEDT, Heineken 3 H., $50,000, 1300m
Kir Royal, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Champagne Cath {Street Sense {USA}})
Three-year-old filly Kir Royale was second on debut at Gosford on November 20, and her trial performances were good enough beforehand to land her a very good chance in this fillies’ race. Trained by Chris Waller, she has drawn handily in barrier six for jockey Hugh Bowman.
Kir Royale is the third foal from the Street Sense (USA) mare Champagne Cath, who was a Listed winner during a good career that saw her place in both the G2 Light Fingers S. and G3 Ming Dynasty H.
Befitting such a pedigree, this filly was a $425,000 purchase for Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock, consigned by Newgate Farm at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Kir Royale as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Moonee Valley, Race 2, 6.45pm AEDT, The Rokon Civil Plate, $60,000, 1200m
Endlessly, 4-year-old mare (Sebring x Bubble Below {Hussonet {USA}})
Endlessly is lightly raced for a 4-year-old mare with only three starts to her name, and just one start this campaign. She comes from the Hawkes team at Flemington, and last time out she showed good grit when second by 0.2l in a Bendigo maiden. In three overall starts, she has been second twice.
This mare is raced in the colours of Gilgai Farm with an obvious point towards her stud career. Endlessly is from the Hussonet (USA) mare Bubble Below, making her a full sister to the Hong Kong marvel Lucky Bubbles.
The mare was purchased from Evergreen Stud Farm by Dermot Farrington Bloodstock at the 2019 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $300,000. It’s also the family of such stakes performers as Lunaspur (Flying Spur), Gunnison (Not A Single Doubt) and Moonovermanhattan (Manhattan Rain).
Endlessly as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Looking Back
Wairau Cove (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) ran a creditable fourth at New Plymouth, while The Buzz (Maurice {Jpn}) was fifth on debut at Wangaratta. The third selection, Imprinted (Written Tycoon), didn't get his chance as Grafton/Coffs Harbour was abandoned.
