Looking Ahead highlights runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are an exceptionally well-bred or high-priced runner early in their career chasing maiden success, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse that has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
Three exciting runners by North Pacific, I Am Invincible and Exceed And Excel are looking to break through for maiden success across Australia on Saturday.
Eagle Farm, Race 1, 11.30am, AEDT (11am local), Widden’s Jacquinot First Yearlings 2026 QTIS 2YO Handicap, $85,000, 1000m
Rarotonga, 2-year-old gelding (North Pacific x We’s Done {Court Command})
The promising Rarotonga (North Pacific) looks hard to beat in the juvenile event at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainer Paul Shailer. He showed his talent on debut on the same track early in October, when running a tidy third behind Lady Of Five (Hanseatic) over 1000 metres.
Rarotonga is the fifth foal out of We’s Done (Court Command), who was a dual winner over 1000 metres. She is well-related being a half sister to Dynamic Love (Brave Warrior), who was a three-time stakes winner and Key Bar Nights (Anabaa {USA}) who was successful at Listed level, and has also produced the dual Listed winning sprinter Barbed (Canny Lad).
Rarotonga as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Another talented family member is Top Knight (Zoustar), he was the Champion 3-year-old in Singapore and was successful at Listed level four times.
In recent years, We’s Done has produced a a Better Than Ready yearling filly, and she missed to both Capitalist and King’s Gambit last spring.
Rarotonga was originally purchased by Holbrook Thoroughbreds for $60,000 from the KBL Thoroughbreds draft at the 2024 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, before being sold again at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by Mishani Enterprises from the Robyn Wise draft for $70,000.
Newcastle, Race 2, 2.25pm AEDT, Newcastle Car And Truck Super Maiden Plate, $60,000, 900m
Chisholm, 2-year-old filly (I Am Invincible x Snitzerland {Snitzel})
Chisholm, a daughter of I Am Invincible, will make her third career start for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr at Newcastle over 900 metres on Friday.
She has only had two starts so far in her career and that was in November last year, when she ran second in the R. Listed Inglis 2YO Classic behind the smart filly Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}). After having a break she ran a good second at Morphettville in May, before she was sent for another spell.
She has prepared for her resuming run with two trials , including winning her last one at Warwick Farm over 801 metres by just under two lengths.
Chisholm as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This promising filly is out of the super talented filly Switzerland (Snitzel). She was victorious in the G1 Lightning Stakes as well as another five Group races. She has already proven to be a successful broodmare leaving the Group 3 winner Hard Landing (All Too Hard), the Listed winner Himalaism - Filial Dragon (Sing.) (I Am Invincible), and the stakes placed Saas Fee (All Too Hard).
Snitzerland has since produced a 2-year-old colt by Zoustar named Adhara, a yearling filly by Zoustar, and unfortunately slipped to Farnan last spring.
Chisholm was purchased for $500,000 by Kia Ora Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Vinery Stud.
Bet365 Traralgon, Race 1, 1.16pm AEDT, Latrobe Valley Express Maiden Plate, $32,000, 1100m
Wiser, 3-year-old gelding (Exceed And Excel x Lyre {Lonhro})
The well-bred Wiser (Exceed And Excel) is set to make his second start at Traralgon on Saturday for his trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.
The Godolphin-bred and raced gelding ran third on debut at Mornington back in May, and has had two jump-outs to prepare himself for his resuming run.
The promising gelding is the first foal out of Lyre (Lonhro). She was a star on the track winning the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes among her three wins as a juvenile.
Exceed And Excel
She is also well-related being a three-quarter-sister to the dual Group 1 winning stallion Impending, and the Group 3 winner Forget (Exceed And Excel).
Wiser's third dam is the G1 Thousand Guineas and G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner in Mnemosyne (Encosta De Lago).
Lyre in recent years, has produced a 2-year-old filly named Ladhar (Exceed And Excel), a yearling colt by Bivouac, and unfortunately slipped to Brazen Beau last season.
Looking Back
Big Sister Ava (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) - Ran a brave second on debut at Kilmore, she is one to follow.
Celtics (I Am Invincible) - Was solid running second at Kilmore, a maiden win is getting close. Donato (Extreme Choice) disappointed running seventh in that same race.
