Lonhro Filly Takes Aim at Spring Riches

Mark Smith - Saturday August 3

Under a copybook ride by Luke Nolen, Shadwell Farm's homebred Lonhro filly Taraayef flagged her spring credentials with a hard-fought win in Saturday's Hygain Tracktorque Handicap (1000m).

Coming off an 11-week hiatus after winning at Sandown on May 15, Taraayef came from midfield and looked set for an easy win but found a willing opponent in the Street Boss (USA) filly Rumble Doll who fell a neck short with the topweight Absolute Flirt a length and three-quarters back in third. (image Grant Courtney ).

Advertisement

The Lindsay Park-trained filly moved her record to two wins and a second from three starts and co-trainer Ben Hayes said the stable is hopeful she will be a Thousand Guineas filly. He revealed that the daughter of Lonhro would return to The Valley on August 24 before making her stakes debut in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes on September 7.


"For the moment we'll keep her to the sprint distances as she was dominant here and she likes The Valley," Hayes told AAP.

"It was a good strong win as she looked like she star-gazed once she hit the front.

"We'll get through her next couple of runs here and hopefully she might stretch out and prove to be a Thousand Guineas filly."

Luke Nolen is also hopeful that Taarayef will be a player in the spring.

"Hopefully it's a deep form race because I've hitched my wagon to her for the spring," Nolen said.

"She'll improve off that fitness wise as she was getting a little tired in the final stages."

A half-sister to Listed winner Haybah (More Than Ready) and the stakes-placed Muraahib (Reset), Taarayef is the fifth winner from as many foals to race out of the Exceed And Excel mare Sultah.

The winner of three of her five starts, Sultah was purchased by Shadwell for $300,000 out of the Mill Park draft at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She is a half-sister to Group 1 Victoria Derby and Group 1 South Australia Derby winner Rebel Raider and the Group III winner Shamoline Warrior (Shamardal) and Listed Werribee Cup winner Cadillac Mountain (Reset).

Sultah has a 2yo Medaglia d'Oro (USA) filly that was purchased out of the Yarraman Park Stud draft by RMA Bloodstock Trust / D Redvers for $170,000 at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Sultah missed to I Am Invincible in 2017 and to Spirit Of Boom last year.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Debut Winner for Fierce Impact
Lovatsville based young gun Fierce Impact (Jpn) produced a tenacious debut winner at Swan Hill on Tuesday in the Seymour Bloodstock colours.
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.
Farnan Filly Wins by Four!
The Mulberry Racing colours were in the frame at Hawkesbury on Tuesday when the Brad Widdup trained Farnan filly Blue Eyed Brigid bolted in as a short priced favourite.
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.
Aussie Bred Sprinter to Run in G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint This Weekend
Australian spring racing might appear to be the centre of the universe in our neck of the woods, but in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend it is all about the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in California and an Aussie bred sprinter could be poised to spring an upset.
Same Race - New Name- $1 million THE MOVE TO STRIKE THOROUGHBRED CLUB STAKES
First run in 1968 and previously featured on Caulfield Cup Day, the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes enters an exciting new era in 2025.
$10 million 2025 Golden Eagle Field and Barrier Draw
The favourites have all fared well after the field and barrier draw was declared for the $10million Golden Eagle at Randwick this Saturday.
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.
Waller Seeking Another Melbourne Cup
He may already have a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) win to his name but New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller says he still yearns to win the Flemington showpiece as much as anyone.
Waterhouse Bott Stable Secure Fresh Blood at Tattersalls Horses in Training
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott may well have won a Cox Plate and a Melbourne Cup this spring had their imported stayer Sir Delius (GB) not been ruled out following vetting scans, but the disappointment of that experience has in no way dampened their enthusiasm for the European product.