Kirwan's Lane Wins G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup - New SW Charm Spirit

Media Release - Monday May 2

Just two weeks after the $12,500 Karaka purchase Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit) won a Listed race at Hastings, his full-brother Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit) followed suit across the Tasman with a superb performance in Saturday’s A$200,000 Group Three Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m). 

Kirwan's Lane is the 14th SW for Charm Spirit (IRE) - image Steve Hart

It was the ninth win of a 30-start career for Kirwan’s Lane, who was bought for $170,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2018 and has now earned A$525,475 in stakes. Both Kirwan’s Lane and Johny Johny are out of Galway (NZ) (Savabeel), a sister to Group One winner Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel) and stakes winners Tullamore (NZ) (Savabeel) and Grazia (NZ) (Savabeel).

Kirwan’s Lane enjoyed a smooth run just behind the pace in Saturday’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup, then stretched out powerfully when released in the straight by jockey Tom Sherry. He quickly reeled in the leaders and went clear to win by a length from Hopeful (Motivator) and strong-finishing fellow Karaka graduate Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel).

“At the top of the straight, I thought it was only a matter of time before he let down,” Sherry said. “Perhaps we hit the front too soon, and he was hesitant to go on with the job as he thought his job was done, but he responded really well to the pressure. It was a tough win.”

Advertisement

Kirwan’s Lane is trained by John O’Shea, who will now try to get the gelding to the inaugural A$2 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 1. The Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on May 13 will give him an early opportunity to qualify.

“We are going to Scone and hopefully we can run one-two there and get into The Big Dance,” O’Shea said. “We really look forward to participating in that race on Melbourne Cup Day.

“I don’t think he was overly comfortable in the ground today, but he goes good enough to get through it. He has a great second-up record, loves a mile and loves (apprentice) Tom Sherry.”

Vendor Little Avondale Stud
Purchaser John O’Shea Racing (New South Wales)
Breeding Charm Spirit – Galway
Sale Lot 226, Karaka 2018 Book 1, $170,000
Bred by C R Grace
Advertisment

Race Result - Richmond Club H'bury Gold Cup Gr3 1600m

Hawkesbury Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:38.88
1
Kirwan's Lane
- 5g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Galway (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Tom Sherry 55
2
1.0
Hopeful
- 5g Motivator (GB) x Monst (IRE) (Monsun (GER))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Rachel King 53
3
1.2
Atishu
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 54
4
3.5
Brutality
- 5g Shamus Award (AUS) x Star Salute (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56
5
4.7
Art Cadeau
- 5g Artie Schiller (USA) x Jewelled Gate (AUS) (Hurricane Sky (AUS))
Tnr: T J Robinson Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
6
5.3
Marnix
- 4g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Dutch Romance (GB) (Dutch Art (GB))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
7
5.5
Olmedo
- 7h Declaration Of War (USA) x Super Pie (USA) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Brodie Loy 59
8
8.0
Berdibek
- 8g Dark Angel (IRE) x Beraviyna (IRE) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J Bowman 58.5
9
8.4
So You Win
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Rhode Island Red (USA) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: C Schofield 58.5
10
9.6
The Frontman
- 4g Makfi (GB) x Imposingly (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 54.5
11
11.1
Imaging
- 7g Oasis Dream (GB) x Mirror Lake (GB) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
12
11.9
Archedemus
- 8g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Carolyn's Star (AUS) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: W Pike 55.5
13
12.7
Criaderas
- 5g Lonhro (AUS) x Youthful Presence (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: S Clipperton 54.5
14
17.2
Ruby Tuesday
- 5m Deep Field (AUS) x Dance To My Tune (CAN) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: A B Collett 54
15
41.4
Fourhometwo
- 4g Ajaya (GB) x Missy O' Gwaun (IRE) (King's Best (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: R Dolan 54
More Reading...
$3million Won Through Inglis Xtra Bonus
A staggering $3m has now been won as part of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series following today’s victory by the Cody Morgan-trained 3YO Considered at Dubbo.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Big Pedigrees Don’t Always Spell Black Type
The breeding of thoroughbreds is a very inexact science which is why we saw siblings to a pair of Group I winners fighting out the finish of a very pedestrian 1100m maiden at Ballarat on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 29
Here is the full list of 53 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
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. 
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO WA's New Excitement Machine
One month to the day since he first set foot on a racecourse, So You Think’s three year old son  Opportunistic remains undefeated from three starts, is a dual stakes winner with earnings of $200,250 to his name, and is WA's new rising star of the turf.