Lonhro Filly Makes Explosive Debut

Mark Smith - Saturday December 1

A week after Godolphin's Brazen Beau colt Tassort raced his way to Golden Slipper favouritism with a facile win in the Golden Gift at Rosehill, Godolphin took the wraps off another hugely impressive debutant in the Lonhro filly Athiri.

Athiri Ridden by Glyn Schofield, the James Cummings-trained filly raced midfield as Nuclear Summit and Stronger set a solid pace. Desperate for a run, Schofield found a seam between runners halfway down the straight and once she saw daylight Athiri (image Steve Hart) came clear to win eased down by two lengths from the Brazen Beau colt Accession with Not A Single Doubt colt Stronger three-quarter of a length back in third.

"A ripping debut from a very uncomplicated filly," Cummings said.

"She has got a wonderful attitude. She was not as robust as some of the colts we saw in the yard here.

"She just sweated on a run for half a furlong, it didn't faze her as her attitude is her greatest strength and we may have unveiled another attribute in her great turn of foot."

A half-sister to Listed Mona Lisa Stakes winner Savatiano, who placed in the Group II Blazer Stakes and Group III HKJC Stakes over the Melbourne Spring Carnival, Athiri is the third foal of the winning Redoute's Choice mare Retsina who is a daughter of the crack racemare Star Shiraz (Sequalo),

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.

Advertisement

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.

Connections hit the jackpot again when they consigned Star Shiraz to the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she 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's 2017 Exosphere colt died after birth but on October 3 she foaled a Hallowed Crown colt.

Lonhro has nine lots on offer at the Gold Coast I January, a single entry at the Inglis Classic and three at the Inglis Premier.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Written By Filly Dominates Warwick Farm Juvenile Contest
First seen at the two-year-old trials back in September, Marc Conners’ chestnut filly Penpel (Written By) produce a quality effort at just her second racetrack appearance, racing clear at Warwick Farm to score by more than three lengths.
Wootton Bassett 2YOs on the March
Wootton Bassett’s star Northern Hemisphere two year-old Albert Einstein has been ruled out of Royal Ascot with a sprained joint that will require a few weeks off, but the red hot sire added two more talented debut winning juvenile colts at The Curragh overnight.
Second Winner For Ghaiyyath As Observer Scores By Five
Second on debut when just three parts of a length off the winner at Pakenham, the James Cummings’ trained Observer (Ghaiyyath) looked sensational as he made a mess of his rivals to score over 1400m in the Tile Importer Handicap on the Sandown Lakeside course.
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
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.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
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.