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 will begin the day in the first race at Caulfield with a China Horse Club homebred before heading north to watch an I Am Invincible colt make his debut at Ipswich for the Kelly Schweida camp.
We will round out the day the G3 Ken Russell Memorial S. at the Gold Coast with a talented Annabel Neasham-trained colt by Not A Single Doubt.
Caulfield, Race 1, 12.05pm AEST, Thomas North H., $130,000, 1200m
Zousmic, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Nurse Kitchen {NZ} {Savabeel})
The Peter Moody-trained Zousmic is bred to perform on debut after finishing second in both of his Pakenham jump-outs over 800 metres.
Michael Dee has been booked to ride Zousmic, who has draw well in barrier four of eight.
Bred and retained by China Horse Club Racing, Zousmic is out of the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic-winning, G1 Vinery Stud S.-placed Nurse Kitchen (NZ), making him a brother to Katsumi Yoshida’s $750,000 filly purchase at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Nurse Kitchen’s three-time winning dam Flying Monty (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Derby-winning, G1 Australian Guineas-placed Hades (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Ipswich, Race 2, 12.13pm AEST, Follow @IpswichTurfClub QTITS 2YO Colts and Gelding Mdn Plate, $26,000, 1100m
Ring Of Steel, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Sweet Kiss {Strada})
The Kelly Schweida-trained Ring Of Steel steps out at the provincials for his first career start after finishing a close up fourth in a recent Doomben trial. Sean Cormack will take mount aboard Ring Of Steel from a low draw, barrier two of 12.
Ring Of Steel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A $400,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Kelly Schweida Racing, Ring Of Steel is out of the R. Listed Inglis Nursery-placed Sweet Kiss, making him a half-brother to the G1 JJ Atkins Plate-placed Gotta Kiss (Not A Single Doubt).
Sweet Kiss herself doesn’t boast the strongest page, with no stakes winners featuring in the first three generations of her pedigree.
Gold Coast, Race 4, 1.08pm AEST, G3 TAB Ken Russell Memorial Classic, $150,000, 1200m
West Of Africa, 2-year-old colt (Not A Single Doubt x Serena Bay {Sebring})
The Annabel Neasham-trained West Of Africa is out to add a stakes victory to his resume after winning his debut on protest at Newcastle in March. James McDonald has been set the task of overcoming an awkward draw, barrier 12 of 13.
A $340,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Tony Fung Investments and Phoenix Thoroughbreds from the draft of Edinburgh Park, West Of Africa is the first foal out of the G2 Percy Sykes S.-placed Serena Bay, making him a half-brother to an Exceed And Excel colt purchased by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
West Of Africa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Serena Bay herself is out of the Listed-winning, G2 Western Australian Guineas-placed Caiguna (Dubai Destination {USA}). Her third dam is the Listed-winning All Washed Up (Marooned {GB}).
Looking back
Our first selection, Category Three (Xtravagant {NZ}) was victorious on debut at Albany while our second selection Cactus Rose (NZ) (Vadmos {Fr}) finished outside of the top four.
Our final selection, Desiah (Pariah) finished second on debut at Cranbourne.
