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.
Today, we are focussing on an expensive colt making his debut and a debut placegetter at the Canterbury Park meeting, while at The Valley we are looking to a well-related filly to build on an encouraging start she has made to her career with a winning performance.
Canterbury Park, Race 1, 6.15pm, Canterbury League Club Plate, $50,000, 1250m
Setanta (Fastnet Rock) boasts a pedigree of abundant speed and class and he gets a first opportunity to put that to winning use here. The $2.3 million Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase is on debut here for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with the benefit of three trials and won the last of them at Warwick Farm.
Setanta as a yearling
He was ridden there by Tommy Berry and the booking of the leading jockey is another plus for the richly-bred colt. Setanta is a brother to the multiple Group 1 winning sprinter Merchant Navy and to the G2 Roman Consul S. winner Jolie Bay. Their dam Legally Bay (Snippets), winner of the G3 Sweet Embrace S., is a half-sister to the G1 Myer Classic winner Bonaria (Redoute’s Choice).
Canterbury Park, Race 2, 6.45pm, Mirvac H., $50,000, 1250m
Grindelwald (Choisir) had looked good at the trials before he made his debut on this course earlier this month and confirmed early impressions with a solid performance to finish runner-up. Natural improvement should see him go close to going one better here.
Grindelwald as a yearling
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Grindelwald was a $130,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate and is out of the winning Brief Truce (USA) mare Flaming Magic. She is a half-sister to the G2 Perth Cup winner Real Love (Desert King {Ire}) and the G3 Asian Beau S. winner Suspicion (Mukddaam {Ire}). It’s also the family of the G1 Flight S. winner Unworldly (Quest For Fame {GB}).
The Valley, Race 3, 7.30pm, Alinta Energy Plate, $50,000, 1200m
Win Fall (Shooting To Win) was a $150,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase and is out of the unraced Ruby Falls (Flying Spur). She is a half-sister to the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock), who produced the G2 Silver Shadow S. winner and G1 Golden Rose S. runner-up Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Win Fall as a yearling
The pedigree page also features the former champion Japanese juvenile colt Asia Express (USA) (Henny Hughes {USA}), successful in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity. Win Fall has placed in both of her starts for trainer Henry Dwyer on rain-affected tracks and an improved surface may well be all the filly needs to break her maiden.
