Stakes Success for Impending's Little Sister

Mark Smith - Saturday June 2

As a sister to the Group 1 BRC Stradbroke Handicap and Group 1 Kingsford - Smith Cup hero Impending, Godolphin's Lonhro filly Epidemic had a secure future but she ramped up her value a cog when earning her first stakes success in Saturday's Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast.

Ridden by Larry Cassidy for James Cummings, Epidemic defeated Pomelo by a short-head with the fast-finishing Just Dreaming a half-neck away third.

Advertisement

Coming off a pair of wins at Rosehill Gardens, Epidemic advances her record to 5 wins and 3 thirds from 10 starts with earnings of $353,305.


"She's done a good job in her own right and the more Impending keeps winning the more value it creates for her," Godolphin assistant trainer Paul Reid told AAP.

"It was a good, tough win. She's quite a determined little filly and even though it got a little bit tight during the race, she really knuckled down and had a go."

Epidemic becomes the third stakes-winner for the crack racemmare Mnemosyne after Impending and Group III Cameron Handicap winner Forget (Exceed and Excel).

A daughter of Encosta de Lago, Mnemosyne captured the Group 1 1000 Guineas and the Group 1 in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

Bred by a partnership that included former champion jockey Ron Quinton, Mnemosyne was a $400,000 Easter Yearling purchase by Woodlands Stud.

Inherited by Darley after the purchase of Woodlands, Mnemosyne has been a heartbreak for Godolphin in recent years. She slipped to Dawn Approach (IRE) in 2014 and to Sepoy in 2015 before missing to Lonhro in 2016.

She was covered by Lonhro's Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes winning son Exosphere last spring.

Epidemic becomes the 76th stakes-winner for Lonhro (pictured) who will stand at a fee of $55,000 at Darley Stud this spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Above the Clouds Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.
One to Watch – Geelong
Team Hawkes were the guiding force behind the racing career of Group I ATC Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and have also prepared his first Group I winner as a sire in Nepotism and they unleashed a debut winner by him at Geelong on Friday.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
Ozzmosis First Born is Feeling Frisky!
Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was in demand at Newgate last spring covering 192 mares and his first born foal that arrived on July 31 at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds is the source of great pride for owners Ian and Cathy Mathieson.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.