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 begin on Saturday with an intriguing field of 3-year-old fillies at Moonee Valley, then touch on the meetings at Newcastle and Seymour.
Moonee Valley Race 3, 1:30pm AEST, Palentino – Outstanding 1st Crop Yearlings Plate, $135,000, 1200m
There looks to be plenty of quality among this 12-strong field of 3-year-old fillies, and the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Kooweerup (More Than Ready {USA}) is potentially the most exciting of the lot.
Bought for $650,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, she is a daughter of G1 Toorak H. winner Allez Wonder (Redoute’s Choice).
Kooweerup as a yearling
Held in high regard by the stable, Kooweerup has won both starts to date including the G3 Breeders’ S. at Morphettville.
I Am (I Am Invincible) cost $600,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while Snitzel fillies Meuse and Talented each fetched $500,000.
I Am as a yearling
Meuse has matched Kooweerup’s perfect two-from-two record to date, while Sassy Salitage (Toronado {Ire}) won her only start and Taraayef (Lonhro) has won her last two.
La Tene (Helmet) won two races last season including the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S.
Newcastle Race 3, 1:34pm AEST, MGA Insurance F&M Class 2 H., $35,000, 1400m
Here, all eyes will be on the promising filly Heart Of The Oak (Sebring).
Bred by Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, she was a $400,000 purchase at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is a half-sister to Believe Yourself (Sebring), who won the G2 Sweet Embrace S., finished fourth in the Golden Slipper and has been a multiple stakes performer in Singapore.
Heart Of The Oak as a yearling
The second dam is the Group 1 winner Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), the dam of stakes winners Tully Dane (Danehill {USA}) and Mygoodgrace (Royal Academy {USA}).
Heart Of The Oak is trained by Gerald Ryan and has made a good impression in her short career to date.
On debut at Wyong on July 23, she was a close second behind Pandemic (Sepoy), who was a brilliant winner at the Kensington meeting last Saturday.
In her only subsequent start, Heart Of The Oak won by two and a quarter lengths at Newcastle on August 10.
Seymour Race 3, 2:21pm AEST, Seymour Cup 20th October Maiden Plate, $23,000, 1600m
This capacity field features the high-priced yearling purchase Kanaloche (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).
Kanaloche as a yearling
The Arrowfield-bred colt fetched $550,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is out of a winning Deep Impact (Jpn) mare, while his granddam was a multiple Grade 1 winner in Argentina and produced the Group 1 performer Dia De La Novia (Jpn) (Sunday Silence {USA}). Dia De La Novia herself produced four stakes winners including the Group 1-placed Dia De La Madre (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr), Kanaloche finished ninth on debut before a much-improved last-start performance for third at Donald.
