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 concentrating our efforts on Ballarat where we like a pair of in-form contenders from the Team Hawkes stable and a well-related Not A Single Doubt filly prepared by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Ballarat, Race 2, 2.15pm AEST, Sam Miranda Plate, $35,000, 1200m
War General (Love Conquers All) has twice finished runner-up from a handful of appearances and is presented with a fine opportunity here to open his account. The 3-year-old is third-up having finished second at Kyneton at his most recent outing and from an inside gate, three, will get every chance to go one better.
War General as a yearling
He was originally sold by breeder Supreme Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Great Southern Sale to Sheamus Mills for $65,000 and then purchased by Hawkes Racing for $130,000 from the Princess Park draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He is a son of the unraced Magamen (Denman) and she is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Skating (At Talaq {USA}), dam of G3 Skyline S. winner and sire Murtajill and the family of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner and sire Vancouver.
Ballarat, Race 3, 2.55pm AEST, Whitford Liquid Waste Super Vobis 3YO, $35,000, 1400m
Surecan (Not A Single Doubt) was offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Arrowfield Stud and bought by First Light Racing, Paul Willetts and co-trainer Ciaron Maher for $220,000. She is a half-sister to stablemate and the G3 Bart Cummings H. winner Persan (Pierro).
Surecan as a yearling
Their dam is the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican (Mossman) and she is a half-sister to the South African Group 1 winner and sire Givemethegreenlight and the family of the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Gregers (Commands). Surecan was well-supported on debut and didn’t disappoint with a solid effort on this course for third over 1100 metres. She should appreciate the extra trip here and looks a top ride for Billy Egan.
Ballarat, Race 5, 3.55pm AEST, Porter Plant Super Vobis 2YO, $35,000, 1400m
Bred by Grand Park View Stud, Patton (American Pharoah {USA}) was bought out of Attunga Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Spendthrift for $675,000. He is the first foal of the G2 Queensland Guineas winner Tsaritsa (Dane Shadow) and she is a half-sister to the G2 Villiers S. winner Ninth Legion (Fastnet Rock). The pedigree also features the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Tell A Tale (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).
Patton as a yearling
Another top prospect for Team Hawkes, Patton carried plenty of support on debut at Pakenham where he was a dominant winner at the expense of Realised (Holler), a race rival again. The colt will surely be improved for his first outing and with Craig Williams taking the ride again they look the combination to beat.
