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.
Two of our selections on Sunday come from Sale, with Knightjar (I Am Invincible) and Lady Di Di (Written Tycoon) looking to get the first win on their CV. For our final pick, we head to Northam, where the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Dreamstock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) tackles a race over 1600 metres.
Sale, Race 1, 12.45pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Punter Assist 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1400m
Knightjar, 3-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Provocative {NZ} {Zabeel {NZ}})
Having finished fourth on debut, the Danny O’Brien-trained Knightjar will attempt to make it second time lucky when he takes his chance at Sale on Sunday. The gelding will jump from barrier one with Jye McNeil booked to take the ride.
The gelding was bought by his trainer for $450,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2021 and he is out of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Provocative (NZ), making him a half-brother to stakes-placed gelding Grinzinger Lord (Tavistock {NZ}) and winning Snitzel filly Heavan.
Knightjar as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Provocative herself is a daughter of Group 3 winner Betwixt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and she is a sister to Sure You Can (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), who produced G1 ATC Australian Oaks winner El Patroness (Shamus Award).
Sale, Race 3, 1.50pm AEDT, Platinum Plumbing Plus Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
Lady Di Di, 3-year-old filly (Written Tycoon x Lady Hepburn {NZ} {More Than Ready {USA}})
Lady Di Di will be hoping to go one better than her second-placed debut when she takes her chance in Race 3 at Sale.
By Yulong’s headline stallion Written Tycoon, Lady Di Di is out of the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Lady Hepburn (NZ), who has produced eight winners.
Written Tycoon | Standing at Yulong Stud
Further back, the filly’s third dam is dual Group 1 winner Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon {Ire}), who produced Group 3 scorer Red Arrow (Red Ransom {USA}) and Listed winner Able Choice (Dehere {USA}).
Lady Jakeo is also the grandam of Group 3 winner Miss Judgement (Strategic), the dam of Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Missrock (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock).
The filly will line up in barrier two with Matthew Cartwright set to take the ride.
Northam, Race 1, 4.05pm AEDT (1.05pm local), Tabtouch Better Your Bet Mdn, $22,500, 1600m
Dreamstock (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Tavistock {NZ} x Sweet Dreams Baby {NZ} {Van Nistelrooy {USA}})
Last seen running sixth on debut, Dreamstock will be hoping experience can play a part when he lines up for his second start at Northam on Sunday. The gelding has been drawn in barrier three with Patrick Carbery booked to take ride.
Dreamstock (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Bought for NZ$50,000 at the 2021 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, Dreamstock is out of the unraced Van Nistelrooy (USA) mare Sweet Dreams Baby (NZ), making the gelding a half-brother to stakes-winning duo Windborne (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Darci’s Dream (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
Further back, this is the same family as the talented European pair, Group 2 winner Persian Force (Mehmas {Ire}) and Group 3 scorer Garrus (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).
Looking Back
Optume (Pierro) was one of our selections on Saturday and he ran a sound race to finish third in the R. Listed Inglis Banner, while Stanislaus (Exceed And Excel) ran sixth at Randwick and Magadan (Russian Revolution) finished fourth at Kembla Grange.
