Lonhro's Lyre in Prelude Upset

Mark Smith - Saturday February 9

The two-year-old Lonhro filly Lyre came off a maiden win at Sale to give trainer Anthony Freedman both divisions of Blue Diamond Preludes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Following I Am Immortal's win in the colts and gelding division, the Godolphin-owned Lyre came from midfield to defeat the gallant pacesetter Vinicunca who came within a long-neck of giving I Am Invincible both divisions.

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Godolphin's better fancied Athiri, also a daughter of Lonhro, was a neck back in third. (image Grant Courtney)


"This filly worked huge on Tuesday and she's improved out of sight since her win at Sale," Freedman's son and assistant trainer, Sam Freedman, told AAP.

"We were expecting her to run really well. She was well over the odds.

"She's hopefully going to line up in the Blue Diamond now and if they think the fillies are better (than the colts), she should be right there.

"Lyre has got great scope and once she gets to three she will be a nicer filly.

"She is still a bit green and learning about it all."

From one of Darley Stud's most successful families, Lyre is the second foal and first winner out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Erato who was somewhat surprisingly culled by Godolphin at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Carry a colt by Helmet, Erato was knocked down to Australian Bloodstock for $120,000.

A sister to the multiple stakes-placed Memorial, Erato is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Impending (Lonhro) and the Group III winner Forget (Exceed And Excel) out of the Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas and Group 1 STC Queen of the Turf Stakes winner Mnemosyne (Encosta de Lago).

Erato was covered by I Am Invincible in 2017 and last year visited Russian Revolution.

Lyre becomes the 81st stakes-winner for Darley Stud's champion Lonhro.


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