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.
Sunday will see three well-bred gallopers make their debuts across Australia.
Sunshine Coast, Race 2, 1.03pm AEST, Makers Mark Mdn Plate, $30,000, 1000m
Lavoni, 3-year-old filly (Encryption x Teenager {Canny Lad})
Queensland-based trainer Jack Bruce will debut a daughter of Encryption, Lavoni, at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Encryption | Standing at Eureka Stud
Lavoni is the fifth foal from the Canny Lad mare Teenager. She won over 1500 metres and is a half-sister to several stakes winners, including the G1 Epsom H. victor Hauraki (Reset) and the G1 South Australian Derby winner Kidnapped (Viscount).
Furthermore, this is the family of Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}), the Champion Stayer in Australia in 2019/20 courtesy of winning the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Sunshine Coast, Race 3, 1.43pm AEST, Jim Beam White QTIS 3YO H., $30,000, 1000m
Apatat, 3-year-old colt (Capitalist x Blue Carlou {Encosta De Lago})
The Sunshine Coast-based trainer Billy Healey will debut Apatat on his home track on Sunday.
Apatat is the second foal from the Encosta De Lago mare Blue Carlou. She was a five-time winner from 1450 to 2000 metres.
Blue Carlou is a granddaughter of Skates (Danehill {USA}), a multiple Listed placegetter and the dam of Vancouver, the Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in Australia in 2014/15 with a victory in the G1 Golden Slipper.
Apatat as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Furthermore, this is the family of Juste Momente (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), a victress of the G1 Robert Sangster S. and the Listed Maybe Mahal Plate.
Apatat was a $130,000 yearling purchase by Billy Healey Racing, Furlong Thoroughbreds and SJC Thoroughbreds from the draft of Mane Lodge at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Scone, Race 4, 2.50pm AEST, Newgate Mdn H., $27,000, 900m
Smash ‘N’ Grab, 3-year-old filly (Brave Smash {Jpn} x Grasse {Medaglia D’Oro {USA}})
Warwick Farm-based trainer Annabel Neasham will debut a daughter of Brave Smash (Jpn), Smash ‘N’ Grab, at Scone on Sunday.
The filly is the second foal from the unraced Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Grasse. She is a full sister to Monogram, the dam of Character (Teofilo {Ire}) who has won the G2 Tulloch S. and the G2 Queensland Guineas.
Furthermore, this is the family of Fantastic Light (USA), the Horse of the Year in Europe in 2001. The son of Rahy (USA) raced in a strong era and would clash with Galileo (Ire) and beat him in a stirring battle for the G1 Irish Champion S.
Smash 'N' Grab as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fantastic Light also won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. and the G1 Hong Kong Cup.
Aquis Farm Operations offered Smash ‘N’ Grab on the 2021 Inglis Digital June (Early) Sale, selling to AB Racing for $27,500. KBL Thoroughbreds reoffered the filly at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where Flying Start Syndications and Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA) bought her for $120,000.
Looking Back
Saturday's selections fared okay. City Thunder (Starspangledbanner) ran well on debut at Flemington, while Ocean Eyes (Astern) was unplaced at Kembla Grange. We will have to wait another day to see Rapido (Capitalist) as he was scratched from his engagement at Kembla Grange.
