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, we have settled on a debutante at Newcastle who has trialled well and a pair of maiden contenders poised to go one better after finishing runners-up at the first time of asking.
Newcastle, Race 2, 1.14pm, Sharp Electronics Group Maiden, $35,000, 900m
Objective (Zoustar) will be the first foal to race for Lucky Country (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who won three races and was placed three times at Group 3 level. She is out of a three-quarter sister to the North American black type winner Crossatyourownrisk (Valley Crossing {USA}) and the second dam is a sister to the dual Group 1 winner and successful stallion Broad Brush (USA).
Zoustar, sire of Objective
The family has also worked well in Australia having produced the G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner One More Honey (Onemorenomore). Trained by Brett Cavanough, Objective showed she was ready for her first race day outing when winning her only trial at Muswellbrook last month.
Newcastle, Race 3, 1.49pm, Australian Bloodstock Maiden, $35,000, 1200m
The Kris Lees-prepared Syncline (Stratum) has started his career off positively following a couple of trial appearances. The colt made his debut over this course and distance last month and boxed on strongly off a handy sit to finish runner-up.
Syncline as a yearling
A $100,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate, Syncline is a son of Dysfunction (More Than Ready {USA}) and she was successful four times and was stakes placed. Her dam Vignor (Flying Spur) was a black type winner and the family of the Group 2 winners Gordo (Brief Truce {USA}) and the siblings Renaissance (Lonhro) and Sessions.
Newcastle, Race 5, 3.09pm, New Zealand Bloodstock Maiden, $35,000, 1600m
Time Stamp (USA) (Tapit {USA}) brings an interesting North American pedigree to the table with the grey a son of the G2 Belmont Vagrancy H. winner Hour Glass (USA) (Petionville {USA}) and she’s a half-sister to black type winners All About Anna (USA) (Maria’s Mon {USA}) and Luzianna Man (USA) (El Corredor {USA}). They are out of a sister to the G2 Churchill Downs Breeders’ H. winner and G1 Test S. runner-up Miss Indy Anna (USA) (Apalachee {USA}).
Time Stamp (USA) as a yearling
Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the now 4-year-old was a $300,000 Easter Sale purchase and his belated start to his career was an encouraging one. He stepped out at Canterbury and made all the running only to be overhauled in the shadows of the post. The gelding has drawn ideally here to break his maiden.
