Inquiry Makes it 173 Stakes Winners for Exceed And Excel

Former Godolphin resident Inquiry has covered plenty of miles with five different trainers and the ultra-consistent son of Exceed And Excel had his moment in the sun in Saturday’s Listed Spear Chief Handicap at Doomben.

With Ryan Wiggins in the saddle, the John Smerdon-trained gelding led at every call to defeat Scallopini (Snitzel) by one and a quarter lengths with a further one and a half lengths back to Right Or Wrong (Manhattan Rain) in third.

The Darley homebred had three trainers at Godolphin alone before being sold to Australian Bloodstock for $80,000 at the 2018 Spring Thoroughnred Sale.and sent to Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan. From there he went to the Jared Whelow at Rockhampton, after he was purchased on Inglis digital for $30,000, where he built a formidable record of four wins and a second from five starts before he was sent to  John Smerdon at the Gold Coast.

However, it will only be temporary as he is due to head back to Whelow according to Wiggins.

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t;He's always been a front running type. I know over the years there's been times where he's just gone too hard and burnt out late, but he actually pinched a couple of cheap furlongs today and enjoyed the big weight drop," Wiggins said.

"After I was able to steady him mid-race and knowing I was only carrying 54kilos I thought he was going to be pretty hard to beat.

"I know him quite well and he always hits a little bit of a flat spot at the top of the straight but picked up again nicely.

"He's got a great winning record this horse, John's (Smerdon) done a great job with his lately and I think he's headed back North for races like the (Rockhampton) Newmarket now."

With his first stakes success, Inquiry advances his record to 10 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $255,495.

A half-brother to the stakes-placed Cloak (Medaglia d'Oro), Inquiry is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Lonhro mare Screen whose seven ins included the Group III ATC Golden Pendant Stakes.

 A half-sister to the 5-time Listed stakes-winner Brannigan (Flying Spur), Screen died in 2018. Her final foal is the unraced 2yo Teofilo (IRE) filly Mashrabiya.

Inquiry becomes the 173^rd stakes-winner for Exceed And Excel who will stand at a fee of $132,000 at Darley Stud in the new season.