Juvenile filly Lucky Raquie has a formidable dynasty behind her as she prepares for her racetrack debut at Randwick on Saturday.
She will be one of two runners for trainer Gerald Ryan in the Gimcrack Stakes (1000m), Sydney’s first two-year-old fillies race of the season with fellow barrier trial winner Tetsuko the other.
By Encosta De Lago out of Monsoon Wedding, Lucky Raquie is a granddaughter of Shantha’s Choice, a horse Ryan trained until she injured herself and embarked on a spectacular career as a broodmare.
Her first foal was Redoute’s Choice, champion three-year-old of his year and a multiple award-winning stallion for Arrowfield Stud.
Among her other foals have been Group One winners Platinum Scissors and Manhattan Rain.
Like Shantha’s Choice, Redoute’s Choice and last season’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles Of Life, Lucky Raquie is raced by Teeley Assets, the Australian racing arm of Sri Lankan businessman Muzaffar Yaseen.
“I trained Shantha’s Choice but she only got to the races twice,” Ryan said.
“She won a two-year-old race at Seymour then ran second in the last two-year-old race of that season. She hurt a suspensory so she went to stud.
“She was a lovely filly who didn’t fulfil her potential.
“Lucky Raquie is also a really nice filly as is Tetsuko.
“They are the most forward of the two-year-olds I have and will both run on Saturday.
“Obviously barriers are important for these early races.”
Ryan decided not to run Klammer in the Breeders’ Plate after he ran second in his first barrier trial on Tuesday.
“He needs another trial so we will wait for another day,” he said.
