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.
Our first selection of the day is Splendid Chap (NZ) (Tivaci), who will be aiming to get off the mark at the second time of asking, before we turn our attention to the first race at the Sunshine Coast, where the Tony Gollan-trained Big Sky Country (Spirit Of Boom) makes her racecourse debut.
For our final pick we head back to Bendigo for Soho Queen (So You Think {NZ}), who will look to get off the mark at the first time of asking for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.
Bendigo, Race 1, 11.20am AEST, Bendigo Mazda Super Vobis 2YO H., $35,000, 1600m
Splendid Chap (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Tivaci x So Splendid {NZ} {Savabeel})
After finishing fourth over 1400 metres on debut at Ballarat, the Archie Alexander-trained Splendid Chap will attempt to build on that performance and, by the look of his breeding, one would think the step up to 1600 metres should suit the 2-year-old on Sunday.
Splendid Chap will be ridden by Declan Bates and he will jump from barrier two.
By Waikato Stud-based Tivaci, Splendid Chap was purchased by his trainer and Rogers Bloodstock for $180,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2021 and the colt is out of the three time-winning Savabeel mare and she is herself a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner Do Ra Mi (NZ) (Savabeel).
Splendid Chap (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Further afield this is the same family as multiple Group 1-winning Champion Candidate (NZ) (Sound Reason {USA}), the dam of G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Nadeem.
Sunshine Coast, Race 1, 11.25am AEST, Martin Collins Australia QTIS 2YO Mdn Plate, $26,000, 1000m
Big Sky Country, 2-year-old colt (Spirit Of Boom x Jaunty {NZ} {O’Reilly {NZ}})
Tony Gollan has the midas touch with progeny of his former stable star Spirit Of Boom and on Sunday he will look to keep up his good record with the sire when he saddles Big Sky Country in the first race at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. The colt will break from two with James Orman booked to take the ride.
Spirit Of Boom, sire of Big Sky Country, was also trained by Tony Gollan | Standing at Eureka Stud
The colt is out of the dual-winning O’Reilly (NZ) mare Jaunty (NZ) and she is herself a three-quarter sister to multiple Listed winner Arenti (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Further back this is the same family as Group 3 scorer Crepe De Chine (NZ) (Pins) and Listed scorer Glam Slam (NZ) (Pins), while this is also the same family as talented mare Bonny O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Bendigo, Race 2, 12pm AEST, Avis Bendigo 3YO Mdn Plate, $35,000, 1300m
Soho Queen, 3-year-old filly (So You Think {NZ} x Iteration {Fr} {Astronomer Royal {USA}})
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable will be hoping Soho Queen can make a perfect start when she makes a belated career debut over 1300 metres at Bendigo on Sunday.
With Craig Newitt booked to ride, the filly has been drawn in barrier seven.
Soho Queen herself was passed in at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale after failing to make her $300,000 reserve and is out of the Listed-placed French-bred mare Iteration (Fr) (Astronomer Royal {USA}), who was purchased by Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock for €50,000 (AU$75,500) in 2014.
Soho Queen, pictured as a yearling, failed to make her $300,000 reserve at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale | Image courtesy of Inglis
Iteration herself is half-sister to Dianaba (Fr) (Diktat {GB}) - the dam of Listed-winning duo Yuman (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) and Kindly Dismiss (Fr) (Excellent Art {GB}).
Looking Back
On Saturday our first selection, Mishima (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), was sadly scratched. The 2-year-old colt Joyrider (Snitzel) ran on nicely in the final 200 metres of his debut at Murray Bridge but was ultimately unable to catch Zou Sensation (Zoustar), an all-the-way winner, and had to settle for a 2.3l second. At Flemington, Winning Bid (Fastnet Rock) wasn't totally disgraced on her debut, finishing 3.45l off the winner in sixth place.
