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 expecting a colt to bounce back from a last-start defeat and a well-related filly to make an impression at the first time of asking at Racing.com Park while at Aquis Gold Coast we’re in the corner of a trial winner on debut.
Aquis Park Gold Coast, Race 1, 11.40am, Heineken Mdn, $21,000, 1300m
Belushi (Bel Esprit) has been given three trials to fit him for his debut and won his latest outing on this course. He has been ridden by Michael Cahill and, encouragingly, he will again take the mount on the 3-year-old.
Bel Esprit, sire of Belushi | Standing at Sun Stud
Trained by Chris Waller, Belushi is a son of Dream Gal (NZ) (Dream Well {Fr}) and she was a capable mare who won on six occasions. She is a half-sister to Viva Zapata (USA) (Affirmed {USA}), who was a Group 2 winner in France, and the stakes winner Valleycreek Kid (USA) (Septieme Ciel {USA}). Xanadou (Ire) (Peintre Celebre {USA}) is another international Group winner in the pedigree.
Racing.com Park, Race 1, 12.25pm AEST, Racing.com Mdn, $31,500, 1200m
I Am Mamwaazel (I Am Invincible) gave a bold showing on debut to finish runner-up at Geelong, but was then below par when resuming at Sale when well-supported in the market. The colt will surely be all the better for that outing and certainly worth another chance.
I Am Mamwaazel as a yearling
A $120,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, I Am Mamwaazel is out of the G3 Belle of the Turf S. winner Mamwaazel (Exceed And Excel) and her dam is a half-sister to the G2 Champagne S. winner Always Divine (Snippets). It’s also the family of the multiple Group winner Roman Senator (Roman Prince {USA}).
Racing.com Park, Race 2, 1.00pm AEST, GG Engineering Mdn, $31,500, 1400m
Konnichiwa (Sizzling) will be making her first appearance for the successful combination of trainer Grahame Begg and rider Jordan Childs and has been well-educated with four trials, placing in the latest of them. The filly doesn’t meet a strong line-up here and from an inside gate can shine on debut.
Sizzling, sire of Konnichiwa | Standing at Riverdene Stud
She is a half-sister to the multiple winner No Dreams All Hope (Redoute’s Choice) with their dam French Alliance (Hussonet {USA}) out of the black type performer Daralara (Fr) (Barathea {Ire}). She is from the family of the former champion colt, multiple Group 1 winner and sire Almanzor (Fr).
