Athiri Breaks Her Stakes Hoodoo

Mark Smith - Saturday December 12

After winning on debut ar Rosehill as a two-year then placing in the Blue Diamond Prelude, Magic Night Stakes, Kindergarten Stakes and fourth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond, it seemed inconceivable that Athiri would be lining up for her 17th start hoping to break her stakes duck.

Stakes breakthrough for Athiri (Steve Hart)

The stars aligned for the 4yo daughter of Lonhro in Saturday’s Listed Quincy Seltzer Razor Sharp Stakes at Randwick.

With Rachel King in the saddle, the James Cummings-trained mare rode the early speed set by Spaceboy before tacking control of the race at the 200 metres. She defeated Southern Lad (Ocean Park) by one and a half lengths with Tactical Advantage (Bel Esprit) a further one and quarter lengths back in third.

After scoring to back wins at Randwick earlier this campaign, Athiri was coming off a third-place finish in the Group III The Nivison over 12200m at Randwick.

"Lony has produced another stakes winner. He was 22 the other day, so it is good to see him still producing horses of this calibre," stable representative Darren Beadman said.

“It’s good she is a stakes-winner. She is very adaptable. She has been up a long time but you certainly need a hard fit horse today.”

A half-sister to the triple Group II winner and $2 million earner Savatiano (Street Cry), Athiri advancer her record to four wins, one second and five thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $507,300.

Athiri is the third foal of the winning Redoute's Choice mare Retsina who is a daughter of the crack racemare Star Shiraz (Sequalo),

Advertisement

A $15,000 yearling purchase by trainer Rex Lipp at a mixed sale at Toowoomba back in 2003, Star Shiraz won six and placed in seven of her 27 starts with earnings of $859,400.

Lonhro (Mark Smith)

Her highlight came when winning the Group 1 QTC Sires' Produce Stakes and was runner-up in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Group 1 QTC TJ Smith Classic.

Consigned Star to the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Star Shiraz was purchased by Darley for $1,125,000.

She was back in the same arena ten years later when sold to Aquis Farm for $200,000.

Retsina has a 2yo Hallowed Crown colt named Vilana and a yearling brother to Athiri.

The daughter of Redoute’s Choice foaled a Street Boss (USA) colt on November 16.

Athiri becomes the 90th stakes-winner for Lonhro who has 14 lots on offer at the Gold Coast and seven at the Inglis Classic.

Advertisment

Race Result - Razor Sharp LR 1200m

Randwick Track: Good(3) Time: 1:07.64
1
Athiri
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Retsina (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 53
2
1.5
Southern Lad
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Distinctive Lass (AUS) (Orientate (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Regan Bayliss 53.5
3
2.8
Tactical Advantage
- 7g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Above Perfection (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
Bel Esprit
4
3.1
Passage Of Time
- 7g Northern Meteor (AUS) x Crystal Gauntlet (AUS) (Marscay (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
5
3.3
Inanup
- 7g Bon Hoffa (AUS) x Our Slew (AUS) (Gilded Time (USA))
Tnr: J M Austin Rdr: J Ford 53
6
3.5
Brave Song
- 6g Your Song (AUS) x Brave Choice (AUS) (Dr Fong (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J Parr 56
7
3.8
Snitz
- 6g Snitzel (AUS) x Tickle My (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: Tim Clark 57.5
8
4.3
Spaceboy
- 4g Deep Field (AUS) x Miatoko (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 53
9
5.1
Intuition
- 6g Street Cry (IRE) x Radar (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Kurt Goldman Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Red Right Out Wins MM Queensland Qualifier
The 2026 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping will feature the third annual Queensland Off-The-Track Cup (QOTT) final on Sunday, 11 January 2026 at Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast. 
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Lonhro's Atheri a Class Above in Nudgee Stakes
Back to the form that made her one of the best two-year-olds in the nation, Godolphin's beautiful Lonhro mare Athiri turned Saturday's Listed Magic Millions Nudgee Stakes (1200m) into a one-act affair.