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 focussed on the Mornington meeting where we take a closer look at a pair of well-related daughters of I Am Invincible and a lightly-tried filly who looks a stand-out chance after a strong start to her career.
Mornington, Race 2, 1pm AEDT, Modtech Plate, $35,000, 1000m
Dana Point (I Am Invincible) is a daughter of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Kemizengo, whose only foal to race, Regal Toff (Toorak Toff), is a two-time winner. The dam is a half-sister to the G1 TJ Smith S. winner and sire Master Of Design and to the G1 Greyville Premier’s Champion S. winner Suntagonal (Octagonal {NZ}). It’s also the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}).
Dana Point as a yearling
A $350,000 purchase by trainer Brent Stanley out of Rosemont Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Dana Point was well-supported following a trial success ahead of her Bendigo debut. She made all the running there before she was caught close to home and from a handy gate should be hard to roll in the hands of Nash Rawiller.
Mornington, Race 3, 1.35pm AEDT, Highview Accounting Plate, $35,000, 1200m
Unvanquishable (I Am Invincible) was passed in at the Inglis Easter yearling Sale where she failed to meet her $350,000 reserve for Kitchwin Hills. She is the first foal of Madam Belle (USA) (Rock Hard Ten {USA}) and she is a sister to the G2 Santa Anita Barbara H. winner and Group 1 placegetter Capital Plan (USA).
They are out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner and champion sire Dahar (USA) with his dam the champion mare Dahlia (USA) (Vaguely Noble {Ire}). Unvanquishable is trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman and from an inside alley is worth a serious look on pedigree alone.
Unvanquishable as a yearling
Mornington, Race 4, 2.10pm AEDT, Mornington Car & Tyre Plate, $35,000, 1500m
Polina (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) has placed in all three of her starts, including two runner-up finishes, for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. On each occasion the filly has got to the line strongly so the step up to this distance should be all she needs to post her first winning strike.
Bred and sold by The Oaks Stud to Maher for NZ$75,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, Polina is a half-sister to the two-time Group 2 winner Platinum Princess (NZ) (Keeper) with their dam the unraced Merle Park (USA) (Machiavellian {USA}). She is a half-sister to the Italian stakes winner Champery (USA) (Bahri {USA}) and they are out of a sister to the dual Group 3 winner Fadeyev (USA) and sire.
Darci Brahma (NZ) | Standing at The Oaks Stud
