Lonhro's Ranier in Heartstopping Festival Stakes Win

Mark Smith - Saturday November 30

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.

Avdulla was awkwardly placed three pairs back on the fence but when O’Hara elected to leave the fence to track in the three-wide lane down the straight, Live And Free darted along the fence to set up what looked a winning lead. But he could not hold the finish of the race hardened Ranier who was coming off a narrow defeat at Flemington on November 9.

The 4yo son of Lonhro defeated Live And Free (Savabeel) by a half-head with Cellarman (Mossman) a length and three-quarters back in third.

Godolphin’s representative Darren Beadman was not sure his charge had won.

"They call me Splinters, I was sitting on the fence," Beadman joked.

"We had our head up and it had its head down.

"It was a lovely ride by Kathy and I think where she won it was when she didn't let Testashadow cross her, she was able to roll into the race.

Advertisement

"Kathy is nice and kind on the horses and they respond well for her.

"He had a light weight and she didn't have to waste for him so they're just that little bit stronger over the concluding stages."

Beadman indicated the Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 14 would likely be Ranier’s nest start.

It was the third stakes win for Ranier after the Group III VRC Carbine Club Stakes and Listed MRC Gothic Stakes while advancing his record to 4 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $481,120.

The good-looking son of Lonhro is the second foal of the talented Commands mare Kanzan whose three stakes wins included the Group III BRC Glenlogan Park Stakes.

A half-sister to the stakes-placed Giresun (Domesday), Kanzan has a yearling colt and a colt foal by Lonhro.

Advertisment

Race Result - Iron Jack Festival Stakes Gr3 1500m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 1:29.46
1
Ranier
- 4g Lonhro (AUS) x Kanzan (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 53
2
0.1
Live And Free
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Patrimonium (IRE) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: B Avdulla 53.5
3
1.9
Cellarman
- 6g Mossman (AUS) x Vintage Blend (AUS) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 59
Mossman
4
2.0
Invincible Gem
- 6m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Diamond Day (AUS) (Marwina (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Rachel King 59
5
3.3
Siren's Fury
- 6m Myboycharlie (IRE) x De Chorus (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: J C Coyle Rdr: Tim Clark 55
6
3.8
Bobbing
- 6g Beneteau (AUS) x My Dear (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: B J Kelly Rdr: J Innes Jnr 53
7
4.0
Renewal
- 5g Dream Ahead (USA) x Renascent (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 57.5
8
4.3
Hogmanay
- 7g Lonhro (AUS) x Hootenanny (AUS) (Best Western (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 53
9
4.5
Mr Garcia
- 7g Paco Boy (IRE) x Birdie (GB) (Alhaarth (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: C Reith 55
10
8.5
Sambro
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Eau De Joie (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
11
9.8
Moss Trip
- 5m Mossman (AUS) x Space Trip (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: N Rawiller 57
12
11.3
Testashadow
- 8g Testa Rossa (AUS) x Moonlight Shadow (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Deanne Panya 53
13
11.5
Don't Give A Damn
- 6g Bon Hoffa (AUS) x Cherry Tree (AUS) (Forest Glow (USA))
Tnr: D A Williams Rdr: G Schofield 54
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.
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.
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.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
The Power of Lonhro
If you own a Lonhro mare, you will want to read this story.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.