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 very promising 2-year-olds by Maurice (Jpn), Stay Inside and Ole Kirk chase stakes success across Australia on Saturday.
Randwick, Race 1, 11.45am AEDT, Listed HKJC World Pool 2YO Fernhill Mile, $200,000, 1600m
Stitzer (NZ), 2-year-old colt (Maurice (Jpn) x Never Been Kissed (NZ) {Tivaci})
The Tom Charlton-trained Stitzer (Maurice (Jpn) lines up in the Listed Fernhill Mile at Randwick on Saturday. The mile distance looks ideal for the good looking colt after running a strong finishing sixth on debut in the G3 Baillieu Stakes behind Southend (Palace Pier {GB}).
Stitzer is the first foal out of the classy filly Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci) who was successful in the G1 Flight Stakes.
Stitzer (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Never Been Kissed is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Hollywood Hero (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), and comes from the extended family of the dual Group 2 winning New Zealand stallion Ocean Emperor (NZ), and the classy Group 1 winning mares Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel).
Never Been Kissed, in recent years, has produced a yearling colt by Ocean Park (NZ), and a weanling colt by Ardrossan before she sadly died late last year.
Stitzer was purchased by O’Shea and Charlton Racing and James Bester Bloodstock for $300,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Randwick, Race 3, 12.55pm AEDT, G2 TAB 2YO Percy Sykes Stakes, $1,000,000, 1200m
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) lines up in the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes on Saturday at Randwick.
She was a brilliant winner on debut on the Kensington late last month by just under four lengths over race-rival again She’s Extra (Exceedance).
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.
Morphettville, Race 4, 1.57pm AEDT (1.27pm local), Listed Sportsbet 2YO Without Fear Stakes, $120,000, 1050m
Ole Go, 2-year-old filly (Ole Kirk x Dana Point {I Am Invincible})
The Michael Hickmott-trained Ole Go (Ole Kirk) resumes in the Listed Without Fear Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. The talented filly made a great start to her career back in late January when winning by just over a couple of lengths over Big Wigs (Gold Standard).
That form now looks very strong as Big Wigs was a very impressive winner of the $1 million Vobis Showdown at Caulfield in the middle of March.
Ole Go as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Ole Go is the first foal from the dual winner Dana Point (I Am Invincible), her dam is a full sister to G1 TJ Smith Stakes winner Master Of Design and a half to G1 Premier's Champion Stakes winner Suntagonal (Octagonal {NZ}).
This is also the close family of the South African Champion 2YO Filly and top producer Tracy’s Element (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Danasinga.
Dana Point, in recent years, has produced an Ole Kirk yearling filly, a Stay Inside weanling filly and was covered by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) last spring.
Ole Go was purchased from the Vinery Stud draft at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $250,000 by Michael Hickmott Bloodstock.
Looking Back:
Cabriole (Lonhro) - Was a dominant winner by five and a half lengths at Geelong, the well-bred gelding is one to keep an eye on.
Set Me Free (Shamus Award) - Ran a fast-finishing second at Cranbourne, while Kissattack (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was solid on debut in the same race running fourth.
