Lonhro’s Soothing Gets an ‘Encryption Ride’ to Claim the Century Stakes

Mark Smith - Thursday November 7

Following a disappointing fifth in the Listed Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield, the 5-year-old mare Soothing bounced back for a runaway win in the Listed G.H. Mumm Century Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Oaks day to put Godolphin on the board at the Flemington Carnival.

With Craig Williams in the saddle, Soothing found the outside fence down the straight and the daughter of Lonhro powered home from second last at the 300 metres to defeat the 2017 winner Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi) by two and three-quarter lengths with the winner’s stablemate  Badajoz (Commands) three-quarters of a length back in third.Soothing powers home in Century Stakes - image Grant Courtney

Second to Mizzy in the Group III Toy Show Quality at Randwick on August 24, Soothing was taken to Morphettville to earn a maiden stakes win in the Listed W H Wylie Hcp (1100m) before disappointing at Caulfield at her most recent start.

“We call that the Encryption ride,” Williams said referring to the ride he gave Encryption to come from barrier 1 to win the Danehill Stakes down the outside fence.

“She was great, she was smooth, she had a target and relished the conditions, she was awesome..

“The horses have been running well. A nice quiet ride for her she was able to justify the faith we had in her last time and she has an excellent finishing burst when held up like that and it was great to see her deliver,” winning trainer James Cummings said.

“It was good to see she got another stakes win on the board because she is a mare that has been quite talented over the past few seasons and she has delivered in two of her last three so hopefully she is not done yet and judging by the margins I think she still has a bit up the sleeve

Advertisement

The Godolphin homebred advances her record to 7 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 18 starts with earnings of $424,050.Soothing claims her second stakes win - image Grant Courney

She is the third of five foals left by the Bel Esprit mare Dreamy before her death in March 2017.

A $240,000 purchase by Woodlands Stud at the 2007 Easter Yearling Sale, Dreamy is not only by Black Caviar's sire Bel Esprit but she is out of the stakes-placed Song Of The Sun (Desert Sun) who is a three-quarter sister to Helsinge the dam of the unbeaten Black Caviar and the champion All Too Hard.

The final foal of Dreamy is the unraced 3yo Helmet colt Impassive.

Soothing becomes the 85th stakes-winner for Lonhro who is standing his 16th season at Darley's Kelvinside base in the Hunter Valley for a fee of $77,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - G.H. Mumm Century Stakes LR 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 0:57.30
1
Soothing
- 5m Lonhro (AUS) x Dreamy (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Craig Williams 56
2
2.8
Ball Of Muscle
- 9g Dubawi (IRE) x Parfore (NZ) (Gold Brose (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: G Schofield 59
3
3.6
Badajoz
- 7g Commands (AUS) x Jerezana (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 57
4
4.9
Thermal Current
- 9g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Soaressa (AUS) (Twining (USA))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58
5
5.0
Bella Vella
- 5m Commands (AUS) x Forget The Weather (USA) (Stormy Atlantic (USA))
Tnr: Will Clarken Rdr: Jamie Kah 55
6
5.4
Tavisan
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Evanescence (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Melham 57
7
6.4
Yulong Yuheng
- 4h Invincible Spirit (IRE) x Rose De France (IRE) (Diktat (GB))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 58
8
6.6
Plague Stone
- 4g Lonhro (AUS) x Giggleswick (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Rawiller 58
9
6.8
Fine Dane
- 4g Danerich (AUS) x Fine Feelings (AUS) (Monde Bleu (GB))
Tnr: J F Moloney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 57
10
7.1
Arrow Lane
- 6r Red Arrow (AUS) x Bags Of Wheat (AUS) (Mugharreb (USA))
Tnr: J E Hickmott Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
11
7.2
Equal Love
- 4m Equiano (FR) x Loving Excess (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: L Nolen 55
More Reading...
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
One to Watch – Warrnambool
So You Think is the first sire to hit 40 winners for the season and he did it with a three year-old filly that won easily on debut at Warrnambool on Monday in the Kia Ora Stud colours.
Career Best Victory for Wentwood Grange Favourite Yearling
Dean Hawkins admits to shedding a tear or two when With Your Blessing was sold as a yearling.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 7 – 9
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
2025 National Thoroughbred Week Launched
National Thoroughbred Week, the newly launched industry initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred and our sport, is excited to confirm a truly trans-Tasman exposure, with hosts confirmed across all Australian and New Zealand regions.
Home Affairs 2YOs Shine at Official Sydney Trials
I Am Invincible’s exciting young sire son Home Affairs was the talk of the town after the yearling sales this year when his progeny topped both Magic Millions and Inglis Easter and at Randwick on Monday morning he had two runners at the official 2YO trials and both of them came out winners.
Breednet Follow the Official Sydney 2YO Trials - 4-6
All 2YO heats this morning run at Randwick over 850m with these trials the key factor in deciding fields for the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes in two weeks time.
Tara Talks Racing - Trials and Racing
This week we’re talking trials after an insightful set of official 2YO trials in Sydney, plus some racing and how Fangirl will eventually go to stud with two Group I wins less on her resume than there should be.
Kiwi Cup Contender Headed to Australia
Melbourne Cup aspirant Trav secured his plane ticket across the Tasman with a pleasing performance over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 22
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.