War Heroine Highlights Lonhro in North America

Tara Madgwick - Sunday July 22
When Darley announced champion Australian sire Lonhro would shuttle to their Kentucky base in 2012 it seemed a somewhat unlikely fit, but with the last of three crops of Northern Hemisphere conceived foals now three year-olds, results would indicate the son of Octagonal has in fact done a better job than many may think.

LonhroBrilliant US bred three year-old Lonhro filly War Heroine was a TDN Rising Star when winning on debut at Del Mar last year and the Peter Miller trained filly has gone right on with the job.

Already a winner of the Listed Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita, she soared to new heights on Saturday when taking out the Group II San Clemente Stakes over one mile on turf to take her overall record to four wins from six starts.

A modest $37,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, War Heroine has now won over $240,000 in prizemoney.

"She's an extremely fast filly; extremely fast," said winning rider Tyler Baze.

"But it isn't so much about the speed, it's about how they're expending their energy. She was doing it well today. I knew she was good for a mile; she's all heart. She loves to stick her neck out and win. She's tough."

Trainer Peter Miller compared War Heroine to his former top class performer Belvoir Bay, who is also co-owned by War Heroine's owner Gary Barber.

"She reminds me a lot of Belvoir Bay--small but mighty. She's got a big heart and a lot of speed. I didn't think we'd be on the lead and I told Tyler she doesn't need to be, but if they give it to you, take it. He rode a super race, got reasonable fractions and she really kicked home strong. I see no reason not to try her in the [1 1/8-mile GI] Del Mar Oaks [Aug. 18]. I think that's the move and that's what we'll do."

War Heroine is one of nine stakes-winners from Lonhro's three Northern Hemisphere crops that have so far produced 96 winners from 187 starters or 71.7% winners to runners with 6.6 % stakes-winners to runners.

Kementari promises to be a new season star for LonhroTurning 20 this year, Lonhro is enjoying ongoing success as a sire of sires with his champion Golden Slipper winning son Pierro dominating his rivals to be the Champion Australian Second Crop Sire, while his first son to go to stud Denman, has had a remarkably successful season siring over 100 winners of more than $5.6million to be in 22nd place on the Australian General Sires List.

Lonhro has also had his usually good season with over 100 winners of $8.4million with Group I winners Kementari and Impending his star performers.

He stands at Darley in the Hunter Valley this spring at a fee of $55,000.



Advertisment
More Reading...
Darley Blueblood Salutes
When Darley sent Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mare Anamato to the Northern Hemisphere to start her stud career, they probably had high hopes of success, but after producing one stakes-winner from four foals, she is now back in Australia and had a winner on Tuesday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Five heats for juveniles at the Rosehill trials on Monday included  some eye-catching winners including Godolphin’s Lonhro colt Beyliks, who was placed in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Nicks That Click - Two Darley Champions Combine
A powerful nick between champion Darley sires Lonhro and Exceed and Excel produced it's tenth stakes-winner on Saturday.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
85th Stakes Winner for Lonhro
A bit of shrewd placing by the Godolphin team resulted in the 5-year-old Lonhro mare Soothing earning a valuable black-type win in Saturday’s Listed W H Wylie Hcp (1100m) at Morphettville.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.