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.
Wednesday at Randwick-Kensington, we look at a debutant colt from the excellent dual Group-winner Ghisoni (Lonhro), while at Sandown, we have another debutant juvenile whose dam is the dual Group winner No Evidence Needed (Shamardal {USA}). At Doomben, we give some love to a filly who’s a full sister to the brilliant Houtzen (I Am Invincible).
Randwick-Kensington, Race 1, 2.20pm AEDT, Kia Ora Captivant Plate, $55,000, 1100m
Restonica, 2-year-old colt (Exceed And Excel x Ghisoni {Lonhro})
Two-year-old debutant Restonica is a homebred for Godolphin, a colt by Exceed And Excel from the Lonhro mare Ghisoni. Ghisoni is a very well-credentialled mare. She won the G2 Surround S. and G3 Glenlogan Park S., and she was twice Group-placed. This colt is her second foal and he is a full brother to Renosu (Exceed And Excel), who was second in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate and third in the Listed Debutant S.
The second dam on this page is Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}), who was also a G2 Surround S. winner. However, this brilliant mare was also a winner of the G2 Magic Night S. and Listed Gimcrack S., and she was second in the G1 Flight S. and third in the G1 Golden Slipper. This is the direct family of the Group winner Larkspur Run (Shamardal {USA}), plus the Group 1 winner Snowland (Snippets) and Snippetson.
Exceed And Excel | Standing at Darley
Restonica is trained by James Cummings at Warwick Farm and he’s had two trials since early January. In the latest, in which he was fifth, he ran in behind the stakes winner Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}). The colt will jump from barrier seven in this debut with jockey Nash Rawiller.
Sandown-Hillside, Race 2, 4.15pm AEDT, Ladbrokes Mates Mode H., $55,000, 1300m
Freakofnature, 2-year-old colt (Snitzel x No Evidence Needed {Shamardal {USA}})
Two-year-old Freakofnature is a Snitzel son of No Evidence Needed, who was a very decorated mare on the racetrack. She won the G2 Let’s Elope S. and G3 Southern Cross S., and she was dual Group 1 placed. This colt is a full brother to Discharged (Snitzel), who was second in the G2 Shannon S. and Listed Christmas Classic H., and third in the R. Listed Magic Millions Cup.
Freakofnature was bred by Gerry Harvey at Westbury Stud and consigned by Westbury to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He sold for $250,000 to Jason Warren Racing.
Snitzel | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The colt is trained by Warren at Mornington and races in the Trilogy silks, who are part-owners. In a debut trial at Geelong on January 31, he was second and, in this debut, he will jump from the plum barrier one with jockey Ethan Brown.
Doomben, Race 1, 2.38pm AEDT (1.38pm local), Sky Racing Mdn, $40,000, 1050m
Set To Shine, 3-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Set To Unleash {Reset})
This 3-year-old filly has a good pedigree. She is a full sister to Houtzen, a winner of the G3 PJ Bell S., G3 MVRC Champagne S. and $2 million R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Also on this page is the Listed Bendigo Guineas winner Mystery Love (Eurozone), plus the South African Champion filly Sun Classique (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}).
Set To Shine was the fifth foal from her dam Set To Unleash and she was consigned by Yarraman Park to the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was bought by the Huddy family’s Peachester Lodge for $460,000.
Set To Shine as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is trained at Eagle Farm by Tony Gollan and she’s had two preparations to date. Her latest trial was on January 17, in which she was unplaced at Doomben. In this debut, she will have jockey Ben Thompson from barrier one.
Looking Back
Our Looking Ahead selections on Tuesday went very well. While at Hawkesbury, Pirate (Merchant Navy) was a scratching, at Benalla, Hotzel (Snitzel) was a winner and Rocket Scientist (Dundeel {NZ}) was also a winner. Two out of three ain't bad.
