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 Wednesday, a million-dollar colt debuts for John O'Shea at Warwick Farm, where Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott also have a three-quarter brother to two stakes winners looking to break his maiden, while at the Sunshine Coast, a well-related Dundeel (NZ) gelding begins his career in a famous set of colours.
Warwick Farm Race 1, 1:25pm AEST, Winter Racing Hcp, $50,000, 1100m
Quantico (I Am Invincible), who was a $1.05 million purchase for China Horse Club, John O'Shea and Boomer Bloodstock at the 2018 Easter Sale, makes his debut here for O'Shea. He has been given a couple of trials headed into this race, improving significantly from his first to second trial, where he was second behind the Godolphin colt Acumen (Exceed and Excel), who was subsequently runner-up at his first start.
Quantico as a yearling
Quantico is out of the multiple Listed winner Hoss Amor (General Nediym), who has already produced a winner in Poetic Charmer (Your Song), while her second foal, Meticulous (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}), was a $2.4 million yearling. There is plenty of precocity in the family, with this colt's third dam, Loving Cup (Bluebird {USA}) a three-time juvenile stakes winner, who finished third in a G1 Golden Slipper S.
Warwick Farm Race 2, 2pm AEST, Casino Prince @ Vinery Hcp, $50,000, 1300m
Just Thinkin' (So You Think {NZ}) returns to the track having had one start as a 2-year-old when third in a Hawkesbury maiden back in April. A couple of trials for trainers Waterhouse and Bott this time in should have him tuned up to make an impression as an early 3-year-old, just as his three-quarter brother did 12 months ago.
So You Think (NZ), sire of Just Thinkin'
Thinkin' Big (High Chaparral {Ire}) was a dual Group 3 winner for the same connections and started favourite in both the G1 Spring Champion S. and the G1 Victoria Derby before being sold to Hong Kong. Along with the Group 3 winning sibling, Stampede (High Chaparral {Ire}), they are out of the stakes-placed Nothin' Leica Cat (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), which is the extended family of I Am A Ripper (Mukaddamah {USA}) and Murphy's Blu Boy (Blu Tusmani {USA}).
Sunshine Coast Race 2, 1:08pm AEST, Sky Racing QTIS 3YO Mdn, $27.500, 1200m
Profit (Dundeel {NZ}) looked strong at a recent Doomben trial and should be making an impression first-up here for Anderson Heathcote Racing for jockey Mark de Plessis.
Profit as a yearling
Bred by Arrowfield, he was purchased out of the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale by Duncan Ramage and his trainers for $280,000 and races in the famous silks of the late Dato Tan Chin Nam. His dam, Opportunity (NZ) (Redoute's Choice) has already produced a couple of stakes-placed horses in Geromayo (Charge Forward) and Rifleman (Hussonet {USA}) and was a Listed winner herself. It's a good pedigree page, highlighted by the Group 1 winner Ike's Dream (King Of Kings {Ire}).
