Two-year-olds on debut at Randwick

The renowned influence on juvenile racing exerted by Darley stallion Exceed And Excel is expected to be revealed again when Hiemal makes his debut in the Listed Breeders’ Plate at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer James Cummings tagged Hiemal as one of the most forward of the Godolphin youngsters seen so far when he impressively won a trial earlier this month and is expecting a strong showing.

He will be joined in the Breeders Plate by stablemate Osorno, another son of Exceed And Excel while Skagerrak, a daughter of first season sire Dawn Approach runs in the fillies division, the Listed Gimcrack Stakes.

“Hiemal does everything right, he’s very, very forward and ahead of the game. He’s got real precocity and the strength of a colt who can run very well on debut,” Cummings said.

“This is a race that most years produces a colt who can go all the way through to the Golden Slipper. 

“So he’s going to need to be able to deliver on all the promise he’s shown us if he’s going to get over the top of this field. 

“But I feel like he’s got what it takes to be right at the top of the tree in a race like this.”

Cummings regards Osorno as a talented, but less-precocious colt, who could still get in the race late if there is a strong pace.

Cummings feels the filly, who is from the family of world champion sprinter Black Caviar, will need to improve on her trial effort to be among the leading prospects, but also believes that she can.

“She might not be there yet, but like most of the fillies in this race, she’s improving quickly and getting stronger every week,” he said.

Godolphin’s Randwick contingent is completed by the imported Spectroscope and the veteran Havana Cooler in the G2 Hill Stakes.

“If Spectroscope can show the necessary improvement up to 1800m for the first time in Australia, he’ll certainly be one of our more interesting runners on the day,” Cummings said.

Havana Cooler is expected be better suited in races longer than Saturday’s 1800m.