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.
We have two selections on Sunday at Ballarat. A pair of fillies, one juvenile and one 3-year-old, are both well-related and both are making their career debuts. Both fillies also come to the races after promising efforts in their respective jump-outs.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 1, 1.15pm AEDT, Veolia 2YO Fillies Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
Autumn Dancer, 2-year-old filly (The Autumn Sun x Solid Bullet {Encosta De Lago})
This flashy daughter of first-season sire The Autumn Sun makes her race debut on Sunday at Sportsbet-Ballarat for Peter Moody. Autumn Dancer comes to the races after impressing when winning an 850-metre jump-out at her home track of Sportsbet-Pakenham recently.
Autumn Dancer is the fourth foal of the well-related Encosta De Lago mare Solid Bullet. Solid Bullet is a half-sister to Hollow Bullet (Tayasu Tsuyoshi {Jpn}) whose five stakes wins include two Group 1s, the VRC Oaks and Arrowfield S.
Autumn Dancer as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Autumn Dancer was consigned by Sledmere Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where she was sold to Blue Blood Thoroughbreds and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $160,000.
She will have the advantage of barrier one for her debut, with Carleen Hefel booked to ride.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 2, 1.50pm AEDT, Bartlett Blinds 3YO Mdn Plate, $37,500, 1100m
Dalton Dancer, 3-year-old filly (Russian Revolution x Rathsallagh {NZ} {O'Reilly {NZ}})
The Nick Ryan-trained debutante comes to Sunday’s event with five jump-outs under her belt. Nick Ryan knows the family well, having trained Dalton Dancer’s Group 3-placed half-sister Belle Savior (Not A Single Doubt).
Belle Savior placed in the G3 The Roses over 2100 metres, before finishing a gallant fifth in the G1 Queensland Oaks. They are both out of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Rathsallagh (NZ), who was herself placed in the G1 Queensland Oaks.
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Farm
Dalton Dancer has been retained by her breeders, the Saunders family, who also bred her half-sister Belle Savior and their dam, Rathsallagh.
The filly will jump from barrier seven with John Allen to take the ride.
