Renosu Leads From the Front in Creswick Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday July 1

Placed in three of his previous six stakes attempts, Renosu made no mistake at his seventh when leading at every call in the Listed VRC AR Creswick Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight at his first start past 1100m.

Renosu goes coast to coast (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Blake Shinn for James Cummings, Renosu bowled along in an unchallenged lead. The 3yo son of Exceed And Excel kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the Worthy Cause gelding Cause For Concern by one and a half lengths, with the winner’s stablemate Legio Ten (Exosphere) a half-length back in third.

The stable has not wrapped Renosu up in cotton wool. With 15 starts, he is the most experience of the eleven starters.

 The son of Exceed and Excel did not take long to show his ability placing in the Group II Maribyrnong Plate and Debutant Stakes at two, although he took seven starts to break his maiden.

“This was a plan hatched by James some time ago, and it’s nice it has paid off,” stable representative Sean Keogh said.

“He was going well in Adelaide, and we accepted with him in the Tobin Bronze, which would have been his first start at 1200m. But he drew wide that day, and James looked at the calendar and saw this race. It was sometime between runs, so he took him to Flemington, where he ran second in a benchmark 90 and then had a let-up.  

“He seems to love the straight, but getting the 1200m was the query. He is a hard-going horse, and we discussed with Blake getting the first furlong right; we knew he would be strong late.”

Advertisement

Renosu strikes a pose (image Grant Courtney)

With his stakes breakthrough, Renosu advances his record to four wins, three seconds and a third from 15 starts with earnings of $448,800.

Renosu is the first foal of the Group II ATC Surround Stakes and Group III BRC Glenlogan Park Stakes winner Ghisoni (Lonhro), a daughter of the Group II STC Magic Night Stakes and Group II AJC Surround Stakes winner Portillo (Red Ransom), who placed in the Golden slipper and Flight Stakes.

Ghisoni has a 2yo brother to Renosu named Restonica, a yearling coly by I Am Invincible named Pietroso and a weanling filly by Bivouac.

Ghisoni missed to Street Boss (USA) last spring.

Renosu is the 210th black-type winner for Darley Stud’s flagship stallion Exceed And Excel. 

Exceed And Excel

Advertisment

Race Result - A.R. Creswick Stakes LR 1200m

Flemington Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.36
1
Renosu
- 3g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Ghisoni (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Shinn 58
2
1.5
Cause For Concern
- 3g Worthy Cause (AUS) x Rock Paper Sissors (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Shawn Mathrick Rdr: Ben Allen 58
3
2.0
Legio Ten
- 3g Exosphere (AUS) x Viennese (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Melham 58
4
2.7
Who Dares
- 3c Deep Field (AUS) x Orvassa (AUS) (Equiano (FR))
Tnr: P G Carey Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
5
2.9
Extratwo
- 3f Toronado (IRE) x Red Pixie (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Beau Mertens 55
6
3.1
Any Zouwilldo
- 3g Zoustar (AUS) x Any Destination (AUS) (Jet Spur (AUS))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: C Newitt 57
7
4.9
Cotel
- 3f Charge Forward (AUS) x Cotillard (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 56
8
5.0
Big Watch
- 3c Shamus Award (AUS) x Golden Sally (AUS) (Bon Hoffa (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: W Egan 57
9
5.7
Tijuana
- 3c American Pharoah (USA) x Mexican Rose (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 60
10
5.8
He's Heaven
- 3g Zoustar (AUS) x Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: B Higgins 59
11
6.1
Ten Commandments
- 3g Palentino (AUS) x Hearts And Flowers (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: John Allen 57
More Reading...
One to Watch – Canterbury
Extreme Choice was a brilliant sprinter and has thrown his share of brilliant sprinters, but as with great champion sires of the past, he can also get a stayer such as Melbourne Cup hero Knight’s Choice and VRC Oaks winner She’s Extreme.
Miss Icelandic Another Inglis Digital Stakes Success Story
Bought as a tried racemare through the 2024 Inglis Digital December Sale for $50,000, six year-old Deep Field mare Miss Icelandic scored her first stakes win on Friday night when leading all the way to win the $175,000 Listed Abell Stakes (1200m) at Cranbourne.
Sires With Winners - Friday February 27
Here is the full list of 51 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding to Win - 2026 G1 Surround Stakes
The $750,000 Group I ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday brings together the best three year old fillies in Australia, so who are the top chances? 
First Winner for Tiger of Malay
Newgate Farm is home to champion sire Extreme Choice and also his promising young sire son Tiger of Malay, who broke the ice with his first winner at Canterbury on Friday night.
Opportunities Present as Latest Magic Millions Digital Sale Opens
Bidding is now open the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale (27 February-4 March) with great opportunities across all ages and categories.
Timing is Everything - Newhaven Park Present Streisand Half-Brother
When entries were taken for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale last year a colt by Star Witness from Zouper Star was hardly seen as a standout offering, but events of the last six months will have this youngster as one of the must inspect horses of the sale.
Kingsclere seeking another Derby with Ocean Park Filly
Kingsclere Stables have an exciting week ahead of them, with promising mare She’s A Dealer shooting for black-type at Trentham on Sunday, while six days later the Cambridge barn will hold a strong hand in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
The Story of Surround - Best 3YO Filly Ever
The only Group I race in Australia for three year-old fillies run at less than a mile, the $750,000 Group I ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) is named in honour of the only three year-old filly to ever win a Cox Plate, so who was she?
Fast Track 2026/27 Launches Nationally: Applications Now Open
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has officially launched applications for the 2026/27 Fast Track program — a nationally recognised traineeship designed to build the next generation of thoroughbred breeding professionals.