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.
We kick off our Sunday selections in New Zealand with the well-bred Moments Like These (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who will be out to make it second time lucky at Tauherenikau. We then move to Ararat and all eyes will be on One Reason (Capitalist), who makes his seasonal debut.
Tauherenikau, Race 4, 1.03pm AEDT (3.03pm local), Johnson Brothers Mdn, $14,000, 1600m
Moments Like These (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Tavistock {NZ} x Not A Jaffa {NZ} {Iffraaj {GB}})
Having run second on debut, the Fraser Auret-trained Moments Like These will be looking to get off the mark at the second time of asking and she will jump from barrier two with Lisa Allpress booked to take the ride.
The filly is out of the unraced Iffraaj (GB) mare Not A Jaffa (NZ), making her a half-sister to three-time winner Jaffastock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Tavistock (NZ)
Moments Like These is a three-quarter sister to multiple Group 1-winning Hong Kong Champion Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), G1 Australian Oaks winner Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Group 3 winner Gobstopper (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Ararat, Race 4, 3.20pm AEDT, Midland Irrigation Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
One Reason, 3-year-old gelding (Capitalist x Otsanda {Snitzel})
One Reason finished third on his only start as a 2-year-old and he will be hoping to get his 3-year-old career off to the perfect start when he lines up in barrier three with Micheal Poy booked to take the ride.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, the gelding was purchased by James Harron for $180,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2021 and was then snapped up by Adam Gangemi for $80,000 via the Inglis Digital March (Late) Sale earlier this year.
One Reason as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
One Reason is out of Snitzel mare Otsanda, who is herself a half-sister to the stakes-placed Heat Of The Fire (Strategic), the dam of G3 Kindergarten S. winner Furnaces and Listed winner Volcanic Rock (Hinchinbrook).
Further back this is same family as Listed scorer Cloister (Marauding {NZ}) and she in turn produced dual-winning Champion Melito (Redoute’s Choice).
Looking Back
Our first selection on Saturday was Never Forgotten (Fastnet Rock) and she finished fifth at Te Rapa, while Freeman (Lean Mean Machine) got her career off the perfect start with a win at Doomben and Misty Legend (I Am Invincible) finished last in the Golden Gift at Rosehill.
