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.
On Saturday, a patient approach should yield dividends for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman at Hastings, while at Riccarton, we have a three-quarter sister to Avantage making her debut. Adelaide's first 2-year-old race sees Lindsay Park step out a progressive colt, while Tarzino's little brother returns in a race at Kembla Grange.
Hastings Race 4, Stella Artois Special Conditions, $40,000, 1400m, 2.15pm NZDT (11:15am AEST)
Trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have played the waiting game with Rhinestone Cowboy (Teofilo {IRE}) and they may now reap the rewards of that approach. The gelding was third on debut earlier this year and hasn’t been out since, although he did have a quiet trial leading up to this.
Rhinestone Cowboy, who carries the colours of the multiple Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), is a son of the Xaar (GB) mare Sunstyle. She was unraced and is a half-sister to four winners from the family of the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Clansman (NZ) (Aythorpe {IRE}.
Riccarton Race 3, Nobby Bussell Memorial 2YO, $22,500, 800m, 12.45pm NZDT (9:45am AEST)
The Jamie Richards-prepared Puysegur (Fastnet Rock) hasn’t been to the trials, but on pedigree she has plenty going for her. The filly is a three-quarter sister to her stablemate and last season’s champion 2-year-old Avantage.
Raced by breeders Willy and Karen Calder, Puysegur is a daughter of Pins ‘N’ Needles who won the G3 White Robe Lodge H., and left Avantage’s stakes-winning dam Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ) and the talented Hong Kong galloper D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). Her page also features the G2 Western Australian Guineas winner and G1 Kingston Town placegetter King Saul (Flying Pegasus).
Morphettville Race 1, Luke Williams Bucks/ SABOIS 2YO Plt, 1000m, 12:41pm AEST
In SA's first 2-year-old race of the new season, Fanaar (NZ) (Stratum) makes his debut off a jumpout win at Flemington last week. He didn’t look to be tested in that trial and looks a typically well-educated Lindsay Park early 2-year-old.
He was a $220,000 buy at Karaka earlier this year out of the mare Dubonnet (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), who was a winner herself and is a half-sister to NZ Group winner Martini Red (NZ) (Red Ransom {NZ}). Those two mares are out of the star mare Pernod (NZ), who was a Group 1 winner.
Fanaar as a yearling
Kembla Grange Race 2, Coastal Bullbars Maiden, 1400m, 1:09pm AEST
Bulwark (Tavistock) returns as a 4-year-old having had 12 months in the paddock since his inauspicious debut at the same track. He is a full brother to Victoria Derby winner and Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino and was a $400,000 buy at the Premier Yearling Sale.
Interesting story behind this guy is that Graham Meredith bought the dam Zarzino, who was carrying this foal, for just $1500 a couple of months before Tarzino's win in the Derby. Tarzino liked a wet track and this guy will get that at Kembla on Saturday.
Bulwark as a yearling
