James McDonald might have been lured to Flemington by Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior on Saturday, but an unraced colt set to make his debut has also caught his eye.
Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans will step out $500,000 Exceed And Excel colt Wolfgang in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, after his jumpouts didn’t get under the guard of the champion rider.
“He is a hungry little bugger,” Kennewell said with a laugh of McDonald.
“He watched the Cranbourne jumpout and was on the phone, so he obviously doesn’t miss much and he is one of the best for a reason.
“Zac Spain has been on him most of his work and jumpouts and he has been terrific all the way through.
“Unfortunately for Zac he won’t get the ride on Saturday, but his time will come.”
Wolfgang, who also had a jumpout last week up the Flemington straight, will carry the Aquis silks and is from the Stakes-placed mare Serenade.
“He is a really nice colt,” Kennewell professed.
“He was probably one of our better picks at the sale for myself and Mat Becker and he backed it up by taking a piece of it himself.
“He has shown that on the track as well, so we did expect that at the trials.
“He just had a nice easy look up the straight the other morning at Flemington, we just wanted him to have a nice look around to familiarise himself with it and he seemed to handle that well.
“The proof is in the pudding, but you have to try and get them to the races now and get the result.”
Kennewell said he will discuss the future of another well-bred colt, Snippety Legend, with owner Bon Ho, with the prospect of gelding the son of Snitzel after he finished runner-up at Sandown on Sunday.
– racing.com
