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 early in its career chasing maiden success, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
Two exciting runners are set to hit the Ballarat track on Sunday, including a Rageese gelding that brings solid form to a maiden race and a gelding by St Jean (Ire) stepping up over 2600 metres which looks suitable with his breeding.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 2, 12.40pm, AEST, Brandt Mdn P., $37,500, 1100m
Nebuchadnezzar (NZ), 2-year-old gelding (Rageese x Meir (NZ) {Volksraad {GB})
It's a great form line for this Mitchell Freedman trained gelding who is hunting for his first success at start number three. At his first start he ran second in Listed grade at Trentham behind the talented runner Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), she then subsequently ran second in Group 1 company behind New Zealand’s star two-year-old filly Velocious (Written Tycoon) in the G1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie.
Since then Nebuchadnezzar has trialled twice, running two solid seconds at Horsham and Stawell before making his Australian debut at Swan Hill when only being run down late over 1200 metres behind Oak Park Rebel (Rebel Raider) on June 7.
Rageese | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
Nebuchadnezzar is by Rageese out of the winning Volksraad (GB) mare Meir. Meir has proven to be a very handy producer leaving three winners including Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) who was successful in the (RL) Karaka Millions C., and the Listed El Roca Trophy at Hastings. Her other winners have been Black Queen (NZ) (Mongolian Khan {NZ}) and Miss Ricky Bobby (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Meir is also a sister to the stakes placed The Tidy Express (NZ) (Volksraad), a half-sister to Lady Le Fay (NZ) (Thorn Park) who was victorious in the Listed Anzac H., and the stakes placed Glory Bound (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Since producing Nebuchadnezzar, Meir has produced a yearling colt by Circus Maximus (Ire) and was most recently served in the spring by Windsor Park Stud’s exciting young son of Deep Impact (Jpn) in Profondo.
Sportsbet-Ballarat, Race 4, 2pm, AEST, Whitford Liquid Waste Mdn P., $37,500, 2600m
The Precursor, 3-year-old gelding (St Jean (Ire) x Zalga {Hold That Tiger {USA}})
The Ciaron Maher trained The Precursor will travel to Ballarat on Sunday to have his fourth start over 2600 metres. Two starts ago he ran a good fourth over a mile behind his stable-mate Winged (Pride Of Dubai), in that race Sweet Jasmine (So You Think {NZ}) was second and she won impressively at her next start at Moe. Then at his last start he ran a very good second without a lot of luck over 2100 metres on the Ballarat Synthetic track. The Precursor is bred to stay and he gets over 2600 metres which should suit today.
The Precursor is by St Jean (Ire) and is the second foal from the Hold That Tiger (USA) mare Zalga, who was a winner over 2100 meters on the track. Her dam is Zals (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and she also possessed staying ability winning twice over 1850 and 2050 metres as well as being metropolitan placed in Melbourne.
St Jean (Ire) | Standing at Brackley Park
She has left three other individual winners including the six-time winning gelding Bull Market (Written Tycoon), the four-time winner Pachino Boy (Grey Swallow {Ire}) and Wilaudie (Econsul {NZ}).
Zal’s other claim of fame is being a three-quarter-sister to Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel) he was the Horse of the Year twice in Australia and amongst his fifteen wins were the G1 Caulfield Cup, G1 Melbourne Cup, G1 WS Cox P., G1 Mercedes C., G1 Queen Elizabeth S., G1 Yalumba S., and the G1 Doomben Cup.
Since producing The Precursor, Zalga has produced a yearling filly by Alabama Express, a weanling filly by Thronum and was most recently served by Bon Aurum in the spring.
Looking Back:
Depth Of Character (Deep Field) was impressive winning at Listed grade, he looks a talented colt and should develop into a lovely three-year-old.
Manos (Snitzel) ran a lovely race for second at Newcastle, a win does not look far away.
Dua Dance (Yes Yes Yes) was a touch disappointing running fifth at Ruakaka, she did only fade late in the race after showing good speed early, and she should improve with the experience.
