Daybreak Lover one-two finish for the Darley stallions

Having his fourth and final run of his current campaign, three-year-old Lonhro gelding Academus recorded his third career Stakes victory, when finishing a touch too good for Exceed And Excel gelding Eximuis in the Listed Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm on 8 June.

Starting a dominant favourite based on his recent form which included a last start unlucky fourth behind Sizzling, who is set to start as one of the favoured runners in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap later in the day, Academus jumped away well from the inside barrier and settled on the rails, a few lengths from the leaders.

As the field turned for home, jockey Kerrin McEvoy made the winning decision to pull his mount across the heels of the runners in front of him to search for clear running. Working down the outside of the field, Academus gathered in Eximius to record his second Stakes win at the 1600m, the distance of his victory in the G2 W.A. Guineas.

Bred by Darley, Academus is out of the Dehere mare Youthful Presence, a half-sister to the G3 winner Walking Or Dancing as well as the Listed winner Irongail. The dam of four winners including the G1 South Australian Derby winner Kidnapped and the Listed winner Deledio, Youth Presence has a two-year-old Street Cry colt named Young, a Reset yearling colt, as well as Bernardini weanling filly.

The sire of 38 Stakes winners highlighted by G1-winning Darley stallions Denman and Benfica, Champion Two-year-old Pierro as well as Mental, the winner of the same race 12 months prior, Lonhro will stand the forthcoming season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $88,000 (inc. GST).