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 2-year-old's by Stay Inside, Snitzel and Zoustar are chasing maiden success on the Kensington on Wednesday.
Kensington, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT, Vinnie Three-Time Champion Sire 2YO Fillies Handicap, $60,000, 1100m
Reachin’ Out, 2-year-old filly (Stay Inside x Pasar Silbano (Ire) {Elnadim {USA}})
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Reachin’ Out (Stay Inside) makes her debut on the Kensington on Wednesday in the hands of jockey Regan Bayliss.
She has looked smart at the trials and was an impressive winner over 736 metres at Randwick on March 5 when defeating Born To Fly (I Am Invincible) in narrow, but stylish fashion.
Reachin’ Out as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Reachin’ Out is the half-sister to the Group 2 winner and three-time Group 1-placed and Widden Stud sire Zousain, and is out of the Irish and American stakes-winner Pasar Silbano (Ire) (Elnadim {USA}).
Reachin’ Out was purchased for $400,000 by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Element Hill draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Kensington, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT, Vinnie Three-Time Champion Sire 2YO Fillies Handicap, $60,000, 1100m
Leonessa, 2-year-old filly (Snitzel x Miss Leonidas {I Am Invincible})
The Chris Waller-trained Leonessa (Snitzel) makes her second start on the Kensington on Wednesday over 1100 metres.
She disappointed running last on debut at Warwick Farm behind Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}), but she looked smart at the trials prior, so it would be no surprise to turn her form around in this 2-year-old event in the hands of Champion jockey James McDonald.
Leonessa is the third foal out of the smart mare Miss Leonidas (I Am Invincible). She was a five-time winner and was successful in the G2 Caulfield Sprint Handicap and the Listed Bel Esprit Handicap. She was also classy enough to run second in the G1 Galaxy Handicap and the G1 AJ Moir Stakes.
Leonessa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This is also the extended family of the tough grey stayer Newport (Encosta De Lago), who was a nine-time winner and was successful in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap, G2 Brisbane Cup and the G3 Randwick City Stakes.
Unfortunately, Leonessa was Miss Leonidas last live-foal before she sadly died in November last year.
Leonessa was purchased by B2B Thoroughbreds for $725,000 from the Cressfield draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Kensington, Race 3, 2.55pm AEDT, 2026 Keeneland Breeders’ Cup 2YO C&G Handicap, $60,000, 1100m
Lafite, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x Summer Sham {Not A Single Doubt)
The well-related and flashy chestnut colt Lafite (Zoustar) is set to make his debut on the Kensington over 1100 metres for trainer Chris Waller on Wednesday.
He has had plenty of education at the trials, and trialled nicely at Rosehill over 900 metres, when running second behind Moscow Maid (Russian Revolution) on March 10.
Lafite is the fourth live-foal from the Not A Single Doubt mare Summer Sham. She was the winner of the G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes on the track. She has had success as a broodmare already leaving Schwarz who was successful in the G1 William Reid Stakes amongst his six wins before he retired to stud.
Lafite as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Summer Sham has been a real money maker at stud. Schwarz was a $1.25 million purchase by the Rosemont-Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and David Redvers Bloodstock from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Silver Wedding (Zoustar) sold for $800,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with Cambridge Stud being the successful purchaser from the draft of Widden Stud, and then Tuscany (Zoustar) was a $1.55 million purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, Trilogy from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Lafite holds an interesting pedigree pattern duplicating the great stallion Redoute’s Choice 3 x 3, his sire Zoustar is out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, and his dam is by Not A Single Doubt, who is a son of Redoute’s Choice.
Summer Sham has a Zoustar yearling filly that sells as Lot 126 through the Widden Stud draft at the 2026 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, last September she foaled a Zoustar filly, before being served again by Zoustar.
Lafite himself sold to the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership and Tony Fung Colts for $1.4 million from the Widden Stud draft at last year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Looking Back:
Irreverent (I Am Invincible) - Ran a close second at Yarra Valley, she deserves a winning turn soon.
Boa Vista (Snitzel) - Was scratched from her race at Yarra Valley. She will keep for another day.
