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.

Advertisement

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.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Yoyo Yeezy Goes Yes Yes Yes With Three Straight
Highlighted as a ‘One To Watch’ after breaking his maiden back in July, Matt Hoysted’s 4yo Yes Yes Yes gelding Yoyo Yeeyz has continued on with his winning ways, adding a further two wins from as many starts.
Widden Deliver the Magic Experience for Owners
Widden are the second largest vendor at Magic Millions this year and if you are looking to get a slice of the MM incentive race action no farm has produced more winners of these rich races that are contested right around the country.
Sword of State- One That Got Away?
Cambridge Stud’s Sword of State might be the one that got away from Newgate Farm with the Group I winning son Snitzel currently sitting on top of the Australian First Season Sires List.
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.
NZ Derby Hopefuls - Listed Gingernuts Salver runners
With the release this week of nominations for the Gr.1 Trackside NZ Derby, the focus intensifies for stamina signs amongst the three-year-old crop ahead of the March 7 Ellerslie classic and one of these promising up and comers claims Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal as his third dam.
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.
Blue-Blood Fillies Break the Ice
The first two races at Warwick Farm on Wednesday were both won by three year-old fillies, whose dams were household names.
Lonhro's Ranier in Heartstopping Festival Stakes Win
An inspired rail hugging ride by Brenton Avdulla had supporters of Live And Free counting their money in the closing stages of Saturday’s Group III Iron Jack Festival Stakes at Rosehill when down the outside came Kathy O’Hara on Godolphin’s honest Lonhro gelding Ranier to spoil the party.
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.
Bloodstock Auction Rolls into 2026 on a High
Bloodstock Auction rounded out 2025 on a positive note with its final sale on 23rd of December, delivering strong clearance for racehorses. Highlighting the platform’s ability to uncover genuine racing and commercial upside at accessible price points.